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THE 

PATH 

SHE 

TROD 


A    MEMORIAL 


MARY  BRUNETTE  (FOSTER)  NASSAU 


HER    HUSBAND 


PHILADELPHIA 

Press   of  Allen,    Lane   &   Scott 

1211-1213  Clover   Street 

1909 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  I. 
1849,  At  Towanda,   Pa 9 

Chapter  II. 
1856,  At  Milford,  Pa 11 

Chapter  III. 
1860,  Towanda  Again 12 

Chapter  IV. 
1865,  At  Freehold,  N.J 15 

Chapter  V. 
1868,  At  Holmanville,  N.J 17 

Chapter  VI. 
1878,  At  Barnegat,  N.  J 18 

Chapter  VII. 
1873,  The  Missionary  Thought 22 

Ch.^pter  VIII. 
1880,  Kismet 28 

Chapter  IX. 
j  June,   188C(,  Turning  of  the  Ways 34 

Chapter  X. 
October,   1881,  To  Africa 43 

Chapter  XI. 

1882,  At  Kangwe 79 

Chapter  XII. 
July,   1882.     Camp-Life 100 

Chapter  XIII. 

1883,  At  Talaguga 110 

Chapter  XIV. 

1884,  Motherhood 150 

Chapter  XV. 
Afterwards 178 

(3) 


FOSTER    GENEALOGY. 


FOSTER    GENEALOGY. 


The  following  data  are  taken  from  the  genealogical  record  com- 
piled by  the  late  Capt.  Zera  Luther  Tanner,  U.  S.  N.,  assisted  by 
Prof.  Floyd  J.  Bartlett,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.  The  first  ancestor  in 
America  of  whom  there  is  record  is: — 

A. 

CHRISTOPHER  FOSTER,  of  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Born  about  1730.     Married  Phoebe  Hildreth,  March  20th,  1756. 
They  had  five  sons  of  whom  there  is  record : — 

1.  Obadiah. 

Born  April  14th,  1761. 

Married  Phcebe  Ludlow,  April  26th,  1799. 

2.  Jabez. 

Born  April  27th,  1763. 

3.  Juhus. 

Born  February  5th,  1765. 
Married  Elizabeth  Hedges. 

4.  Paul. 

Born  February  17th,  1767. 
Married  Hannah  Ludlow. 

5.  Luther. 

B. 
LUTHER  FOSTER. 

Born  at  Southampton,  L.  I.,  September  10th,  1770. 
Married  Ruth  Hedges,  of  East  Hampton,  March  9th,  1791. 
Both  died  in  Warsaw,  N.  Y.;  the  former,  November  16th,  1846; 
the  latter,  ]\Iarch  7th,  1860.     They  had  thirteen  children:— 

1.  Ruth  Hedges. 

Died  in  infancy. 

2.  Silas  Howell. 

Born  July  28th,  1793. 

Married  Fanny  Smith,  April  30th,  1818. 

3.  Josiah  Hedges. 

Born  July  8th,  1795. 
Married, 

1.  May  26th,  1821,  H.  M.  Barbara  Greiner,  at 

Montague,  N.  J. 

2.  February  22d,  1832,  Sarah  Skeer,  at  Wilkes- 

barre,  Pa. 


6  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

4.  Elizabeth  Mary. 

Bom  September  25th,  1795. 
Married  Ira  Gilmore,  December  29th,  1816. 
.    5.  Hetty. 

Born  February  10th,  1800. 

Married,    in    Warsaw,    Robert    Barnett,    October 
9th,  1837. 

6.  Jabez. 

Unmarried. 

7.  A  son. 

Died  in  infancy. 

8.  A  son. 

Died  in  infancy. 

9.  Julius. 

C. 
REV.  JULIUS   FOSTER. 

Born  December  26th,  1805. 
Married, 

1.  In  Towanda,  Pa.,  October  19th,  1840,  Priscilla  Brunette 

Fox.     No  issue. 

2.  October  10th,  1844,  Mary  Ann  Sayres. 

3.  April  5th,  1860,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Vandeman.     No  issue. 
Children  of  the  second  marriage : — 

1.  Julius. 

Born  in  Towanda,  Pa.,  August  4th,  1845. 
Married, 

1.  May  23d,  1876,  Harriet  C.  Staniford. 

2.  September  29th,  1884,  Joanna  S.  VanNote. 

2.  Mary  Brunette. 

D. 
MARY  BRUNETTE  FOSTER. 

Born  in  Towanda,  Pa.,  June  19th,  1849. 

Married,  at  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau,  M.  D.,  October 

10th,  1881. 
Died  in  Africa,  August  8th,  1884. 
Leaving  one  child,  Mary  Brunette  Foster  Nassau. 


FOREWORD 


IF  the   chief  object  in  penning  this  Memorial  of  Mrs.  Nassau  were 
as  a  tribute  to  herself,  it  should  have  been  written  twenty  years 
ago.      With  that  object  in  view,  there  would  have  been  larger 
reference  to  what  she  did,  in  acknowledgment  of  her  work  and  use- 
fulness.    That  story  would   then  have   been   of  a  being  whom   to 
admire  and  praise. 

But  I  am  free  to  acknowledge  that  the  chief  incentive  in  under- 
taking this  Memorial  was  to  bring  to  the  view  of  her  daughter  the 
inner  character  of  the  mother,  whom  it  was  her  jDathetic  fate  never  to 
know.  I  have  therefore  endeavored  less  to  describe  what  I  and 
others  saw  and  knew  of  her  work  and  outside  life,  but  rather  from 
her  own  diaries,  letters,  and  other  writings,  to  catch  her  own  thoughts, 
feelings,  aspirations,  and  consecrations,  and  thus  to  make,  for  the 
daughter,  a  picture  of  her  mother.  This  story  is  therefore  of  a  being 
whom  to  revere  and  love. 

R.  H.  N. 


(7) 


1849,    AT    TOWANDA,    PA.  9 

CHAPTER    I. 
1849,  At  Towanda,  Pa. 

Mary  Brunette  Foster  was  bora  June  19th,  1849,  at  Towanda, 
Pa.,  while  her  father  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that 
place. 

Of  those  who  were  acciuainted  with  the  Foster  household  of  that 
day,  there  remain  but  few  who  can  tell  me  much  of  the  Foster  home 
or  incidents  in  little  Mary's  childhood  days. 

Mr.  Foster  is  remembered  as  a  clergyman  who  magnified  the 
sanctity  of  his  ministerial  calling,  carrying  its  dignity  and  solemnity 
not  only  into  the  pulpit,  but  under  his  own  roof  and  into  the  society 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Looking  at  his  portrait,  one 
would  not  think  him  capable  of  levity.  And  yet  there  was  nothing 
austere  or  severe  either  in  his  words  or  manner. 

As  a  lad  of  ten  or  twelve,  I  remember  having  seen  him  once  as  a 
guest  in  my  father's  house,  at  Easton,  Pa.,  where  he  was  attending  a 
Presbyterial  meeting.  Though  seen  but  that  one  day,  I  recall  the 
urbanity  that  softened  the  dignity  and  the  courteous  smile  that 
prevented  my  childish  fear  of  the  visitor. 

A  fellow-presbyter  writes  of  him: — "Rev.  J.  Foster  was  a  lovely 
man,  scholarly,  timid,  and  not  self-assertive  enough  to  receive  the 
salary  or  recognition  he  deserved,  yet  regarded  most  highly  by  all 
who  do  not  admire  a  brazen  face.  He  i:)reached  the  pure  gospel  in 
Towanda  from  about  1836  or  1837  to  about  1863."  In  his  own 
family,  though  he  was  not  demonstrative,  his  two  children  so  felt 
the  love  that  was  behind  the*  quiet  demeanor  that  he  had  not  only 
their  filial  reverence,  but  their  affection  so  strong  that  his  death  was 
felt  by  them  as  the  greatest  of  losses  in  their  youth.  Years  did  not 
wipe  out  its  memory.  All  their  life  they  gave,  if  not  a  public  recog- 
nition, at  least  a  heart  reference  to  the  anniversary  of  his  death. 
Mary's  brother  Juhus  was  four  years  older  than  she.  Young  as  he 
was,  he  remembers  the  welcome  he  gave  her.  His  father  had  a 
strawberry  bed  in  the  little  back-yard  garden.  Mr.  Foster  gathered 
a  few  of  these  berries  as  a  delicacy  for  his  wife ;  and  he  gave  to  young 
Julius  the  special  honor  of  carrying  the  saucer  to  the  sickroom.  For 
his  successful  accomplishment  of  that  mission  he  was  rewarded  with 
a  new  privilege  of  being  allowed  to  hold  his  baby  sister  in  his  arms. 

Mrs.  Foster  had  skill  with  her  pencil.  One  day  the  little  boy, 
instead  of  seeking  his  play  in  the  street,  remained  at  home  to  watch 


10  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

the  toddling  baby  during  his  mother's  temporary  absence.  When 
she  returned  home  she  rewarded  him  by  painting  for  him  a  rose  so 
finely  that  he  treasured  it  as  a  work  of  art  for  many  years. 

Mrs.  Foster  was  in  delicate  health  for  a  long  time  after  her  little 
girl's  birth,  and  had  need  to  attend  the  Water  Cure  at  Elmira,  N.  Y. 
During  such  absence  of  the  mother  the  two  children  had  the  privilege 
of  visiting  their  maternal  aunt,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  pastor 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  Pa. 

When  Mary  was  about  four  years  of  age  she  and  her  brother 
strolled  one  day,  fishing  along  the  bank  of  Towanda  Creek  (a  small 
affluent  of  the  Susquehanna).  The  child  slipped  from  the  bank 
down  into  the  water  and  probably  would  have  been  drowned  had 
her  brother  done  as  most  boys  would  have  done,  i.  e.,  run  away  to 
call  for  help.  Instead  of  that,  himself  promptly  reached  down  to 
the  water  and  seized  his  sister,  whom  he  was  not  strong  enough  to 
drag  out;  but,  holding  her  above  the  water,  his  shouts  for  help  were 
heard  at  his  own  home,  from  which  they  had  not  wandered  far. 
And  both  children  were  soon  rescued. 

A  part  of  the  Summer  of  1854,  Mary  being  then  five  j'ears  of  age, 
was  spent  in  Milford,  Pa.,  with  a  maternal  uncle,  Mr.  George  Sayre. 

There  is  also  a  memory,  of  about  that  date,  of  a  visit  by  the  chil- 
dren to  their  Aunt  Babcock,  of  Utica,  N.  Y.  There  was  no  direct 
railroad  communication  at  that  time.  The  journey  was  made  by 
carriage  via  Milford,  N.  Y.,  and  Richfield  Springs;  and  most  of  the 
Summer  was  spent  in  Utica.  Among  her  nieces,  ]\Irs.  Babcock  re- 
garded Mary  as  a  favorite. 

Her  mother  died  in  February,  1S56,  Mary  being  then  in  her  seventh 
year.  In  the  meantime,  the  Uncle  Todd  had  removed  from  Troy 
to  Milford,  Pa.  Mrs.  Foster,  in  her  long  decline  of  health,  when  she 
felt  death  approaching,  had  asked  the  Aunt  Todd  to  take  charge  of 
the  two  children.  So  they  grew  up  in  the  Milford  home,  happy  with 
their  cousins,  Frank  and  Harriet;  but,  though  separated  from  their 
father,  never  forgetting  him.  Their  Aunt  Todd  well  supplied  the 
lack  of  their  own  mother,  but  they  always  looked  with  the  greatest 
pleasure  for  the  periodical  visits  of  their  father. 


1856,    AT    MILFORD,    PA.  11 

CHAPTER    II. 
1856,  At  Milford,  Pa. 

Mary  spent  about  four  years  in  Milford,  her  aunt  and  her  cousin 
Hattie  becoming  so  attached  to  her  that  they  felt  almost  to  the 
point  of  opposition  her  subsequent  removal  by  her  father.  She 
was  a  loving,  clinging,  almost  dependent  child.  The  self-reliance 
that  marked  her  later  years  was  developed  by  the  necessities  of 
her  school-teaching  life.  Of  Mary's  life,  while  still  a  child  at  Milford 
with  her  Aunt  Todd,  there  are  remembered  incidents  illustrating  her 
seriousness  and  her  early  religious  impressions.  In  her  Uncle  Todd's 
library  was  a  book,  "Sermons  to  the  Young,"  by  the  celebrated 
evangelist,  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Baker.  She  got  possession  of  the  book, 
read  it,  was  impressed  by  it,  and,  not  satisfied  with  its  lines  of  thought, 
added  to  them  some  of  her  own,  as  she  actually  expounded  them 
at  very  serious  play-preaching  services  which  she  held,  standing  by 
a  little  table  as  pulpit,  and  with  Bible  and  hymn-book  (my  inform- 
ant does  not  remember  whether  there  was  prayer),  her  audience 
being  her  brother  and  her  two  Todd  cousins.  One  of  these  cousins 
remembered  her,  in  one  of  those  little  sermonettes,  speaking,  even 
at  that  early  date,  of  herself  as  a  prospective  missionary  and  the 
possibility  of  a  foreign  grave  for  herself. 


12  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 


CHAPTER    III. 
1860,  At  Towanda  Again. 

In  1860,  when  Mary  was  about  eleven  years  of  age,  her  father 
married  a  widow,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Vandeman;  and  Mary  and  her  brother 
returned  to  Towanda. 

The  child  grew  up  under  some  deprivations  that  had  a  far-reaching 
influence  in  after  life,  not  only  on  her  health,  but  in  the  limitations 
of  privilege  and  pleasure  enforced  by  painful  economy.  On  his 
marriage  with  his  first  wife  the  salary  of  Rev.  Julius  Foster  was  only 
$400.  At  his  second  marriage  it  was  increased  to  $600.  In  the  account 
of  the  family  expenses  there  were,  of  course,  medicines  for  the  invalid 
mother  and  her  treatment  at  a  sanatorium,  with  the  increasing  wants 
of  the  two  growing  children.  Calculation  had  to  be  made  with  pitiful 
closeness  as  to  the  table  expenses,  or  how  far  a  pound  of  beef  could 
be  made  to  go. 

In  it  all,  the  children  never  felt  that  the  father  was  at  fault,  or, 
indeed,  that  any  one  was  at  fault.  They  not  only  revered,  but  deeply 
loved  that  father.  Mrs.  Nassau  herself  has  told  me  how  they,  as  part 
of  the  family,  accepted  loyally  the  line  of  self-sacrifice  that  the  father 
had  chosen  for  his  ministerial  work.  Feeling  that  some  meat  was 
essential  to  his  successfully  going  through  the  pulpit  Sabbath  works, 
it  was  placed  on  only  his  plate  regularly  on  that  day.  Mrs.  Nassau 
has  told  me  that  she  looked  at  it  with  a  hungry  longing,  but,  unself- 
ishly, never  thought  of  complaining. 

Without  being  personal  towards  the  Towanda  Church  of  sixty 
years  ago,  and  certainly  not  to  the  prosperous  and  liberal  Towanda 
Church  of  to-day,  this  is  an  illustration  of  how  some  churches  of  the 
past,  unintentionally  and  even  unconsciously,  allowed  their  minister 
to  suffer.  Certainly,  there  was  no  lack  of  reverence  for  their  able 
and  faithful  pastor.  Nor  was  there,  at  heart,  a  lack  of  kindness; 
for,  those  same  people,  who  had  limited  the  family  of  four  to  a  sup- 
port of  $600,  later  lovingly  gave  their  hours  as  night-watchers  over 
the  sick-bed  of  the  fatherless  daughter.  Perhaps,  also,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  such  a  case  it  is  fair  to  say  that  Mr.  Foster  mis-read  his  duty 
in  thinking  that  he  ought,  without  a  protest,  to  accept  such  treatment. 
If  his  humility  did  not  claim  more  for  himself  personally,  his  office 
certainly  should  have  demanded  more  in  a  just  business  transaction. 
He  erred,  I  think,  also  in  consenting  to  be  collector  of  his  own  salary, 


1860,    AT    TOWANDA    AGAIN.  13 

receiving  on  account  anything,  as  the  case  might  be,  e.  y.,  a  bushel 
of  potatoes  or  a  bag  of  flour.  This  the  congregation  itself  recog- 
nized when  his  successor  came  as  assistant.  This  young  man,  before 
he  entered  the  ministry,  had  been  a  bank  clerk.  He  properly  appre- 
ciated the  money  value  of  his  services  and  was  at  once  given,  though 
assistant,  $800,  and,  when  he  assumed  the  full  pastorate,  after  Mr. 
Foster's  death,  $1000. 

The  conscience  of  church  communities  is  often  dormant  about 
this  entire  subject  of  church  beneficence.  That  region  of  country 
was  not  singular  in  that  respect.  Nor  was  Towanda  church  the  only 
one  whose  conscience  needed  to  be  aroused.  In  an  adjoining  church 
the  minister's  salary  was  $300.  The  church  deacon,  in  his  round  with 
the  subscription  list,  came  to  one  of  the  members,  a  physician.  The 
deacon  proposed  to  the  doctor  that  the  latter  should  put  to  his  name 
150  of  the  $300,  remarking  that  the  doctor  could  take  it  out  in  bills 
for  medical  attendance  on  the  pastor  and  his  family!  The  doctor 
refused  to  be  a  party  to  the  arrangement. 

The  two  children  attended  school  at  the  Towanda  Institute  for 
the  space  of  four  years.  During  the  first  of  those  years  there  were 
two  gentlemen,  brothers,  the  Messrs.  Dean,  who  were  teachers. 
Their  influence  is  especially  remembered,  in  their  bringing  the  sub- 
ject of  personal  religion  in  a  wise  and  tender  manner  to  the  thoughts 
of  the  two  Foster  children.  (Both  of  these  gentlemen  subsequently 
entered  the  ministry.) 

In  the  latter  of  those  four  years  the  Rev.  James  McWilliam  is 
remembered  as  the  teacher. 

Among  the  members  of  her  father's  congregation  were  ladies  and 
gentlemen  who  took  a  permanent  interest  in  the  young  girl,  some  of 
them  following  her  with  their  sympathetic  letters  to  the  end  of  her 
life.  Prominent  among  them  was  Mrs.  N.  N.  Betts.  As  I  write,  there 
lie  before  me  letters  written  by  Mrs.  Betts  to  Mrs.  Nassau,  in  our 
African  home  on  the  Ogowe  River. 

In  1863  the  two  children  were  allowed  by  their  father  to  make 
another  visit  by  carriage  to  their  Aunt  Babcock  in  Utica,  N.  Y. 
It  shows  the  estimate  their  father  had  of  their  capability,  though 
so  young,  to  take  that  long  drive  alone.  It  shows  also  the  self-reliance 
which  the  young  man  and  young  girl  had  developed,  that  they  them- 
selves felt  competent  for  the  adventure. 

After  this  trip  to  Utica,  Mary  kept  on  at  school  in  the  Towanda 
Institute  until  the  death  of  her  father,  which  occurred  in  January, 
1865.  Her  work  as  a  student  was  not  marked  by  what  a  teacher  would 
call  brilliance.  Faithfulness  was  her  keynote,  a  steady  persistence 
at  any  assigned  task.     Its  performance  was  looked  upon  as  a  duty 


14  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

to  be  accomplished,  not  to  be  slighted  or  given  up  under  any  feeling 
of  weariness.    That  same  spirit  of  duty  ran  through  all  her  life. 

Mary  must  have  been  in  good  and  vigorous  health ;  for,  I  remember 
her  telling  me  of  her  ambitious  contests  with  her  brother  in  running. 
One  day  they  were  racing  home  from  school,  the  prize  in  the  race 
being  as  to  which  should  first  touch  the  door  of  their  home.  He  was 
slightly  in  advance,  and  was  stopping  to  hastily  unbar  the  front  gate. 
She  availed  herself  of  his  delay  to  lightlj^  leap  over  the  fence  and  gain 
the  door  with  a  "touch-down." 

In  a  letter  written  from  Africa  on  December  25th,  1S82,  to  my 
son  William  in  Princeton  University,  in  speaking  of  skating  and 
other  i^hysical  amusements,  Mrs.  Nassau  said:  "When  a  girl,  there 
was  no  amusement  I  enjoyed  more  than  skating.  As  a  little  girl  I 
did  eciually  enjoy  'riding  down'  hill,  until  my  big  brother  forbade 
me.  The  truth  is,  all  those  out-door  sports  had  great  attractions  for 
me,  much  to  the  disgust  of  that  same  brother,  who  wished  his  sister 
to  be  more  quiet  and  orderly;  not  to  indulge  in  such  rudeness  as 
climbing  fences,  running  races,  &c." 

After  her  father's  death  Mary  continued  in  school  six  months 
longer,  her  home  still  being  in  the  Towanda  "Parsonage"  building, 
which  her  brother  had  bought. 

But  in  that  summer  of  1865  she  had  a  five  or  six  weeks'  long  sick- 
ness, made  dangerous  by  a  variety  of  complications.  It  is  remem- 
bered that  during  all  those  weeks  the  brother  and  widowed  step- 
mother were  not  left  alone  in  the  necessary  watching  over  the  invalid. 
Every  night  a  detail  of  two  from  their  kind-hearted  neighbors  and 
members  of  their  father's  congregation,  in  succession,  came  to  the 
house  to  relieve  them. 

The  Rev.  William  Harris,  who,  a  year  before  the  father's  death, 
had  been  called  by  the  church  as  his  assistant,  was  especially  named 
to  me  by  Mrs.  Nassau,  in  her  remembrance  of  his  faithful  and  sym- 
pathetic visits  to  her  bedside.  In  her  delicate  state,  the  noise  of 
passing  wagons  or  shouts  of  passersby  hurt  her.  Mr.  Harris  thought- 
fully had  the  street  roped  off. 

After  Miss  Foster's  recovery,  in  the  summer  of  1865,  the  same 
Aunt  Todd,  who  had  mothered  her  at  Milford  after  Mary's  own 
mother's  death,  and  who  in  the  meantime  had  removed  to  New 
Jersey,  where  Mr.  Todd  was  pastor  of  the  Holmanville  Church  (near 
Lakewood),  in  the  cranberry  region,  came  and  took  her  to  her  "Wil- 
low Grange"  home  near  Whitesville.  Her  brother  Julius,  with  the 
widowed  step-mother,  remained  at  Towanda;  he  part  of  the  time 
alone,  while  the  latter  was  visiting  with  her  relatives  in  Indianapolis. 


1865,    AT    FREEHOLD,    X.    J.  15 


CHAPTER    IV. 

1865,  At  Freehold,  N.  J. 

In  the  winter  of  1865-66  Miss  Foster  entered  the  Female  Seminary 
at  Freehold,  N.  J.,  under  its  principal,  Elder  A.  B.  Richardson.  In 
childhood,  her  taste  for  music  had  been  recognized  by  placing  her  at 
a  piano  when  she  was  only  eight  years  of  age.  But  she  had  never 
shown  any  aptitude  for  singing  until  at  Freehold.  There  her  voice 
was  cultivated  as  a  second  soprano.  But  after  leaving  the  seminary 
her  voice  was  prominently  heard  in  the  Holmanville  and  neighbor- 
ing church  choirs  as  a  leader. 

She  was  honored  by,  and  enjoyed  association  with,  all  her  school 
companions.  At  that  Freehold  Seminary  she  was  accorded  a  promi- 
nent place  in  her  classes,  as  evidenced  by  her  being  appointed  to 
make  the  Address  of  Welcome  at  a  certain  Christmas  celebration. 
There  lies  before  me  the  penciled  draft  of  that  address.  It  is  with- 
out date,  probably  in  1866  or  1867.  As  an  introduction,  it  opens 
with  a  salute  to  "Friends  and  Companions,"  i^asses  on  to  "Kind 
Friends"  of  the  audience,  and  closes  with  a  "Welcome"  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  F.  Chandler,  who,  to  his  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Freehold,  added  teaching  of  a  few  classes  in  the  seminary. 

Miss  Foster  graduated  at  Freehold,  with  honor,  in  a  class  of  eight, 
on  July  24th,  1867. 

A  catalogue  of  the  "Freehold  Young  Ladies'  Seminary"  for  1869 
contains  a  list  of  the  graduates  for  each  year  since  its  establishment 
in  1853.  The  class  of  1867  is  the  second  largest  on  the  list,  with  its 
eight  names.  Those  same  names  appear  on  the  programme  of  the 
graduating  exercises  of  July  24th,  1867,  with  the  subjects  of  the 
"original  compositions"  read  by  them  that  day: — • 

Anna  L.  Conover,  Freehold:  "Geology,  and  the  First  of  Genesis." 
Sarah  I.  Wetherell,  Freehold:  "Life,  and  the  Sea." 
Catharine  E.  Herbert,  Marlboro:  "Progress." 
Margaret  T.  Smalley,  Freehold:  "History,  a  Conservative." 
Harriet  M.  Richardson,  North  Marlboro,  Mass.:   "The  Sovereigns 
of  the  Animal,  Mineral,  and  Vegetable  Kingdoms." 

Emma  C.  Hill,  Knoxville,  Tenn. :   "The  Use  of  Useless  Things." 

Laura  M.  Perrine,  Freehold:   "Conflict  and  Victory." 

Mary  B.  Foster,  Towanda,  Pa.:  "Thought  and  its  Manifestations. 


16       -  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

The  subsequent  names  and  addresses  of  Miss  Foster's  classmates, 
as  far  as  I  am  able  to  discover,  are : — 

Miss  Conover,  Freehold,  N.  J. 

Miss  Wetherell  (Mrs.  Hoffman),  Hackensack,  N.  J. 

Miss  Herbert  (Mrs.  W.  H.  Denise),  deceased. 

Miss  Smalley  (Mrs.  Benjamin  Smith),  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Miss  Richardson  (Mrs.  Dr.  Turner),  Chicago,  111. 

Miss  Hill  (Mrs.  ),  Maryville,  Tenn. 

Miss' Perrine  (Mrs.  William  Stoever),  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia, 
Pa. 

Miss  H.  M.  Richardson,  daughter  of  a  cousin  of  the  principal  who 
made  the  commencement  address,  and  Miss  Laura  Richardson,  daugh- 
ter of  the  principal,  were  special  friends  of  Miss  Foster.  Miss  Harriet 
Richardson  afterwards  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Turner,  surgeon  in  the 
United  States  Army,  at  Standing  Rock,  Dakota,  and  continued  her 
friendship  in  letters  to  Mrs.  Nassau  in  Africa.  Among  the  members 
of  the  junior  classes,  also,  Miss  Foster  had  loving  friends.  The 
photograph  of  one  of  them.  Miss  Helen  Parker,  daughter  of  Ex- 
Governor  Parker,  of  Freehold,  she  carried  to  Africa  and  kept  promi- 
nent among  her  treasures.  Miss  Parker,  though  Miss  Foster's  senior 
in  years,  was  her  junior  at  the  seminary,  graduating  in  1870  and 
dying  ten  years  later,  a  year  before  Miss  Foster  sailed  to  Africa.  In 
this  school-friendship  with  the  daughter  was  laid  the  basis  of  the 
subsequent  close  relationship  which  grew  up  between  the  mother, 
Mrs.  Parker,  as  president,  and  Miss  Foster,  as  secretary,  of  the  Mon- 
mouth Presbytery  W.  F.  M.  S. 

After  her  graduation  Miss  Foster  went  back  to  Towanda.  She 
and  her  brother  had  never  been  separated  all  their  lives  except  during 
those  two  years  of  1865-67. 

In  the  Spring  of  1868,  with  the  step-mother,  she  came  back  to 
New  Jersey  to  join  her  brother,  who  had  followed  his  Uncle  Todd, 
and  who  had  bought  a  home  among  the  cranberry  jiines  of  the  Hol- 
manville  district.  It  proved  too  large  for  their  needs,  and  he  then 
took  a  smaller  one.  She  joined  him  in  this  their  new  home,  which 
she  named  "Clover  Nook." 


1868,    AT    HOLMANVILLE,    N.    J.  17 


CHAPTER    V. 

1868,  At  Holmanville,  N.  J. 

Miss  Foster  began  her  work  as  a  teacher  in  1868-69  in  the  Hol- 
manville  district  school ;  in  1870  at  Burrsville,  in  a  district  school 
within  convenient  walking  distance  of  her  boarding  house.  Later 
she  taught  in  other  adjacent  districts,  viz.:  Whitesville,  1871-72 
and  1873-74;  Midwood,  1874-75;  especially  in  Lakewood  in  1875- 
76-77  (at  that  time  known  as  "  Bricksburg ") ;  and  at  her  Holman- 
ville  home.  At  the  Burrsville  School  she  sought  not  only  the  intel- 
lectual advancement  of  her  pupils  in  the  school-room,  but  also, 
everywhere,  their  spiritual  growth.  With  nothing  ascetic  in  her 
character,  she  lived,  in  her  own  heart,  and  for  all  with  whom  she 
came  in  contact,  in  a  spiritual  world.  As  a  result  an  extensive 
religious  interest  spread  through  her  school,  which  extended  to  the 
Baptist  Church  (the  only  church  in  the  place),  developing  into  a 
large  revival.  She  worked  with  voice  and  heart  and  hand,  among 
the  most  active  human  agents  in  that  in-gathering.  When  the 
communion  Sabbath  came,  and  many  of  her  pupils  were  among  the 
baptized,  in  her  joy  she  did  not  think  of  any  denominational  bar, 
but,  hearing  the  usual  invitation  to  "members  of  sister  churches," 
she  joined  them  at  the  Lord's  Table.  Subsequently,  one  of  the 
deacons  warned  her  that  her  action  was  not  permissible  in  the  Baptist 
denomination;  that  "sister  churches"  meant  sister  Baptists.  She 
complied.  But  Mrs.  Nassau  has  told  me  how  pained  she  felt_  that 
she  could  no  longer  sit  at  Christ's  Table  with  those  whom  she  had  led 
to  that  Christ. 


18  THE    PATH    SHE   TROD. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

1878,  At  Barnegat,  N.  J. 

After  teaching  in  the  Lakewood  region  for  some  six  or  eight 
years,  Miss  Foster  began  a  larger  work,  in  1878,  at  Barnegat.  Rev. 
A.  H.  Brown,  the  zealous  and  indefatigable  Presbyterial  missionary 
of  the  New  Jersey  Synod,  desired  to  develop  Presbyterian  interest 
in  the  two  small  churches  of  Barnegat  and  Forked  River.  At  the 
former  place  was  a  little  gathering  of  not  a  dozen  pious  women,  who 
had  a  prayer-meeting.  Miss  Foster  commenced  a  girl's  day  and 
boarding  school.  Under  Mr.  Brown,  she  led  the  prayer-meeting 
and,  as  a  "female  elder,"  made  regular  reports  to  him  at  his  monthly 
visits  to  that  nucleus  of  the  Barnegat  Church,  which  as  yet  had  not 
a  single  male  member. 

Her  pupils  at  all  her  schools  were  devoted  to  her.  Some  of  them, 
in  the  district  schools,  were  farmers'  sons,  stout  young  men.  She 
influenced  them,  softening  them  to  a  sense  of  chivalry  by  her  own 
rare  womanliness,  elevating  their  thoughts  into  spirituality,  bringing 
out  their  dormant  musical  abilities,  and  so  inspiring  them  with  her 
own  gentle  strength  of  character  that,  as  men  now  out  in  various 
businesses  of  life,  they  reverence  her  memory. 

Mrs.  Nassau  carried  to  Africa  in  1882,  as  a  valued  testimony  to 
the  affection  of  her  Whitesville  pupils,  a  souvenir  quilt  given  her  ten 
years  before,  in  1872,  while  teaching  in  that  district.  It  bore,  on 
the  pieces  of  which  it  was  composed,  the  names  of  the  donors,  which 
I  find  in  one  of  her  little  booklets  of  that  date,  some  of  whom  are 
now  dead,  and  many  of  them  married : — 

George  Chambers,  Margaret  Chambers,  Louise  H.  Dunham,  Jane 
Grove,  Sophia  Grover,  Mary  E.  F.  Hankins,  Alirha  Hankins,  George 
H.  Holman,  Charity  Holman,  Amy  Holman,  James  D.  Holman, 
Lewis  W.  Holman,  Clara  Lilybridgc,  Clara  Phifer,  Rosa  Reynolds, 
Harry  Reynolds,  George  H.  White,  Anna  A.  White,  Catherine  White, 
Joanna  White,  Abram  White.  Of  the  "Bricksburg"  (now  Lake- 
wood)  School,  in  1875-76-77,  I  find  a  list  of  forty-six  of  her  pupils 
of  the  Fall  of  1877,  including  the  family  names  of  Aker,  Ashley, 
Berry,  Bishop,  Crane,  Crowell,  Davidson,  Dickinson,  Dix,  Ellis, 
Grant,  Hankins,  Hoft,  Johnson,  Jones,  Kelsey,  Killam,  Loveland, 
Miller,  Murphy,  Nelson,  Norcross,  O'Leary,  Pulsifer,  Rhome,  Riley, 
Rogers,  Sherman,  Starr,  Taylor,  Trimble,  Westhall. 


1878,    AT    BARNEGAT,    N.    J.  19 

Then  of  her  Barnegat  Young  Ladies'  Seminary,  for  the  three 
years,  1878-79,  1879-80,  1880-81,  I  find  a  Hst  of  fifty  pupils,  under 
the  family  names  of  Alston,  Applegate,  Bennett,  Birdsall,  Blake, 
Bodine,  Bowen,  Brown  (3),  Cox  (2),  Conklin,  Conrad  (2),  Cranmer, 
Dilks,  Errickson,  Edwards,  French,  Goldsmith,  Gulick  (2),  Holmes, 
Inman  (2),  James,  Jones,  King,  Neill  (3),  Pharo,  Predmore  (4), 
Prout,  Reeves,  Robinson,  Scott,  Soper,  Stephenson  (2),  Storms, 
Townsend  (2),  Van  Cleaf,  Van  Note,  Woodman. 

I  find  a  wi-itten  prayer.  It  is  without  date.  From  internal 
e\adence  is  was  written  after  her  profession  of  faith  in  Christ;  the 
paper  is  of  the  kind  we  used  in  Africa  (she  may  also  have  used  that 
same  kind  before  coming  to  Africa.)  I  do  not  understand  the  refer- 
ence to  a  wish  to  be  "alone;"  for,  opportunities  of  being  alone  were 
there  too  painfully  frequent;  and  a  prayer  made  in  Africa  would 
scarcely  be  without  some  reference  to  the  heathen  world  or  mission- 
ary work.  Who  were  the  "us"^she  refers  to?  If  written  in  Amer- 
ica, they  were  probably  her  school  girls.  If  in  Africa,  her  associates 
of  the  Mission  Station,  possibly  of  1882: — 

"  0 !  Heavenly  Father,  I  come  to  Thee  in  this  way,  because  there 
is  no  place  where  I  may  go  and  be  alone,  save  out  doors,  where  is 
dampness.  I  know  that  our  Master  often  went  in  the  desert  alone, 
and  was  there  long  in  darkness  and  damp.  Sleepiness  is  coming 
over  me,  even  while  writing,  notwithstanding  I  have  just  read  Christ's 
warning  to  watch  and  pray;  and  His  words  to  Peter,  'What!  could 
you  not  watch  one  hour?'  Graciously  accept  this  as  an  act  of  Wor- 
ship. 

"This  is  Thy  holy  day.  I  supplicate  Thee  for  Thy  Holy  Spirit. 
Christ  said,  '  If  ye  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your 
children,  how  much  more  shall  your  Heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy 
Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Him.'  Lord  God,  I  ask  Thee,  Saviour,  our 
elder  Brother-Friend,  say  to  us,  as  Thou  didst  to  Thy  disciples  of  old, 
'Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost.'  This  is  Thy  promise  to  us,  yes,  us, 
who  five  at  this  late  day.  '  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  He  shall  give 
you  another  Comforter,  that  He  may  abide  with  you  forever,  even 
the  Spirit  of  truth.' 

■  ll  "I  acknowledge  my  sins.  Known  are  they  to  Thee  from  the 
earliest  days  to  the  present.  Lord,  I  repent.  If  I  am  not  sincere 
in  this,  teach  me.  Give  me  a  truly  repentant,  humble,  mourning 
heart.  Lord,  I  believe,  help  Thou  my  unbelief.  I  find  written, 
'Repent,  and  be  baptised'  (This  has  been  done  in  Thy  name)  'and 
he  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  Verify  Thy  promise, 
to-day;  for  it  is  to  'as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call.'  O! 
Father!  I  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast  called  us.     Not  unto  us  be  the 


20  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

glory,  not  because  of  any  merit,  only  because  of  Thy  own  infinite 
love  and  mercy.  Thou  hast  called  us,  having  provided  a  way  for 
our  coming.  We  hasten  to  come  in  the  name  of  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
the  Life.  Holy  Spirit,  'testify  of  Jesus  to  us  all  to-day,  to  all  Thy 
saints  who  wait  upon  Thee;  reprove  us  of  our  sin;  and  also  those  who 
to-day  shall  hear  the  word,  but  whose  hearts  are  still  under  the 
bondage  of  sin,  convince  them  'of  sin,  of  judgment,'  cause  them  to 
be  born  again." 

Another  prayer,  at  Barnegat,  November  14th,  1879,  early  in 
the  morning:  "I  ask  "in  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  the 
Father  may  be  glorified  in  Him  by  the  conversion  of  every  one  of 
my  pupils. 

"I  ask  in  His  name  for  the  Comforter  to  teach  me  all  things. 

"I  ask  for  peace. 

"I  ask  that  I  may  serve  God  in  every  act,  word,  and  look." 

A  special  prayer  for  direction:  "I  ask  in  the  name  of  the  Only 
Begotten  Son,  that  these  girls  may  have  given  them  obedient  and 
loving  hearts;  that  disobedience  and  impudence  may  be  driven 
away  by  Thy  Spirit,  by  my  influence;  and  may  I  obey  God  in  every 
little  way  that  the  Enemy  coming  against  me  may  never  prevail. 

"Strong  in  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  0!  God,  I  use  the 
words  of  divine  truth  when  I  pray  Thee  to  give  me  the  spiritual 
weapons  which  shall  cast  down  imaginations  and  every  high  thing 
that  exalteth  itself  against  the  knowledge  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  my 
pupils,  and  that  every  thought  may  be  brought  into  capti\aty  to  the 
obedience  of  Christ.    Amen." 

"I  pray  Thee,  show  me  the  path  of  duty.  May  I  be  a  foreign 
missionary?  Am  I  fit  to  serve  Thee  there?  Dost  Thou  wish  me  to 
go?  If  so,  hedge  in  my  way,  so  that  I  shall  know  Thy  will,  and  be 
obliged  to  do  it." 

Among  other  documents  of  this  period,  I  find  a  printed  "Catalogue 
and  Circular  "  of  her  "  Barnegat  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  "  for  1878-79, 
with  herself  as  principal,  sustained  by  an  "Examining  Committee" 
consisting  of  Rev.  A,  H.  Brown,  of  Camden;  Rev.  R.  S.  Harris,  of 
Barnegat;  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Denton,  of  Forked  River;  and  endorsed 
by  a  Board  of  Trustees,  consisting  of  Hon.  H.  C.  Gulick,  E.  Bennett, 
M.  D.,  and  Captains  A.  M.  Cox,  W.  Predmore,  and  C.  Soper.  In  its 
roll  of  pupils  are  listed  members  of  families  of  Barnegat  and  adjacent 
towns. 

At  the  same  time  that  Miss  Foster  was  so  active  in  her  Missionary 
Society  secretaryship  and  busy  daily  with  her  interesting  and  grow- 
ingly  successful  school,  she  was  the  leader  of  the  little  band  of  eleven 
women  who  were  forming  the  nucleus  of  the  Barnegat  Church,  at 


1878,    AT    BARNEGAT,    N.    J.  21 

first  under  the  guidance  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Brown,  and  later  under  care  of 
Rev.  J.  M.  Denton. 

She  was  sought  also  by  men  in  the  active  affairs  of  business  life. 
The  home  of  Hon.  H.  C.  Gulick,  a  political  leader,  was  always  open 
to  her;  and  Mrs.  Gulick  was  her  fidus  Achates  and  trusted  companion 
in  the  prayer  meeting. 

She  interested  herself  also  in  public  affairs,  as  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing letter  of  publisher  S.  C.  Jennings,  dated  December  13th,  1880, 
at  the  office  of  the  New  Jersey  Courier,  of  Toms  River.  The  gentle- 
man who  had  been  the  Courier's  Barnegat  correspondent  having  dis- 
continued, Mr.  Jennings  wrote  to  Miss  Foster:  "I  know  of  no  one 
more  capable  than  yourself,  and  would  esteem  it  a  favor  if  you  could 
see  your  way  clear  to  send  such  items  of  Barnegat  news  as  in  your 
judgment  would  be  of  interest  to  our  readers." 


22  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

1873,  The  Missionary  Thought. 

Of  the  rise  of  the  foreign  missionary  thought  in  Mary  Foster's 
mind  I  have  the  history  in  certain  reasons,  penned  by  herself.  They 
are  two  separate  sheets  of  different  kinds  of  paper,  without  date 
(but  at  least  one  of  them  evidently  in  the  Spring  of  1880,  the  other 
later),  and  apparently,  from  the  difference  in  chirography,  wi-itten 
at  some  interval  of  time.  They  contain  much  the  same  facts,  but 
differ  in  fullness  of  detail.  I  combine  the  two  documents  as  follows: 
"History  of  some  causes  bearing  upon  the  origin  and  gi'owth  of  my 
purpose  to  be  a  foreign  missionary.  I  remember,  in  my  childhood's 
home,  among  the  hills  of  Northeastern  Pennsylvania,  in  the  humble 
sitting-room  of  the  country  parsonage  [in  Towanda],  the  mother 
[her  step-mother]  asked  me,  '  Would  I  not  like  to  be  a  missionary?' 
The  tho't  was  very  very  unpleasant  to  me,  repulsive;  and  for  no 
accountable  reason,  except  that  my  heart  was  at  enmity  with  God 
and  the  interests  of  His  Church.  Anger  arose  in  my  mind  that  such 
an  idea  should  be  presented  to  me.  Farther  back  than  this,  while 
sitting  [at  Milford]  under  the  preaching  of  a  most  devout  and  earnest 
man  of  God,  an  active  christian  minister,  and  a  highly  honored  and 
esteemed  relative,  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  and  listening  to  his  appeals 
to  the  unconverted,  and  his  earnest  assertion  of  the  fearful  guilt 
they  were  incurring  by  continued  rebellion,  a  desire  arose  within  me 
that  'I  could  have  been  born  in  heathen  lands,  then  this  responsi- 
bility I  would  not  have  to  bear.'  The  wish  was  never  expressed, in 
words  until  my  purpose  to  be  a  missionary  had  become  pretty  well 
formed,  but  it  was  keenly  felt  at  the  time.  It  showed  how  surely 
my  heart  was  at  variance  with  God,  and  how  ignorant  I  was.  This 
was  the  tho't  which  the  desire  to  shirk  known  responsibility  pressed 
upon  me,  'I  wish  I  were  a  heathen.'  It  is  due  to  me  to  say,  this  was 
when  I  was  too  young  to  appreciate  the  horrors  of  the  heathen  home, 
or  the  degradation  of  heathen  womanhood. 

"But  I  think  I  always  had  a  sensitive  conscience,  and,  from 
earliest  remembrance,  a  prayerful  spirit.  When  in  trouble  of  any 
kind,  small  or  great,  when  in  want  of  aid;  wlicn  eagerly  and  earn- 
estly desiring  any  special  object,  from  the  smallest  toy  to  the  most 
important  thing  in  life,  my  natural  habit  was  to  pray  for  help  or  for 
the  thing  desired.  I  cannot  trace  in  this  a  special  love  for  God; 
rather,  a  keen  appreciation  of  His  power,  and  a  (•liiid-like  trespassing 
upon  His  forbearance. 


1873,    THE    MISSIONARY    THOUGHT  23 

"After  I  experienced  saving  faith  and  believed  in  Christ,  for 
eight  years,  the  subject  was  not  forcibly  presented  to  me.  This  duty 
due  to  Foreign  Missions  was  dimly  appreciated,  and  as  poorly  per- 
formed, as  were  most  of  my  christian  duties.  I  was  only  just  awake; 
or,  rather,  but  feebly,  very  feebly,  alive  to  the  responsibilities  of  a 
christian  life.  The  Bible  was  little  read;  not  strange,  then,  that  my 
heart  was  not  growing  in  spiritual  life  and  knowledge,  when  I  would 
not  allow  the  Spirit  to  work,  thro '  the  Word,  upon  my  heart. 

"But  even  during  those  years,  there  was  the  desire  to  be  used 
in  God's  service,  felt  in  the  heart,  expressed  in  the  prayers;  but 
still  I  clung  to  sin,  and  was  not  free  from  its  bondage.  Yet  during 
school-life,  and  upon  beginning  to  teach,  I  devoted  the  Tenth  to  God. 
And,  during  all  this  time,  there  was  a  very  dim  and  very  slowly 
growing  wonder,  whether,  should  the  opportunity  come  to  me  to 
go,  would  I  consent. 

"The  fact  that  I  had  a  cousin,  one  who  was  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  in  our  family  circle,  and  of  whom  I  always  tho't  with  the 
greatest  reverence,  who  was  a  missionary  [Mrs.  Scott  of  India]  made 
the  subject  more  homelike,  and  bro't  it  more  constantly  before  me. 
But,  from  the  time  when  angry  because  approached  upon  the  subject, 
and  to  the  present  wi'iting,  I  (;annot  trace,  in  the  growth  of  my  desire, 
the  influence  of  a  single  indiAadual.  I  do  see  a  powerful  influence 
exerted  by  attendance  upon  public  meetings,  and  by  reading  of  mis- 
sionary items  and  appeals,  and  by  personal  labors  in  this  field.  [The 
Revival  in  her  School  and  in  the  Baptist  Chm-ch,  at  Burrsville,  in 
1870,  had  a  very  deepening  effect  on  her  life-purjDose.] 

"In  the  Spring  of  1872,  in  the  Holmanville  Presbyterian  Church, 
Mr.  Todd  told  us  he  had  received  from  the  ladies  of  Mt.  Holly  and 
Burlington  churches  an  in^-itation  to  send  two  delegates,  at  the 
time  of  the  Spring  Meeting  of  Monmouth  Presbytery,  to  a  Meeting, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  form  a  Presbyterial  Society,  and  to  incite 
zeal  in  individual  churches,  thro'  organization  of  Auxiliaries.  Mr. 
Holman  [Elder  Charles  Holman]  asked  why  I  did  not  go?  I  was 
teaching  in  that  district.  He  said  he  would  see  that  I  should  be 
excused  from  school  duties.  I  decided  to  go.  [I  was  at  that  meet- 
ing in  Burlington,  being  in  the  United  States  on  my  first  furlough, 
and  having  been  invited  to  be  present  and  make  a  missionary  address. 
But  I  do  not  remember  seeing  or  being  jDresented  to  Miss  Foster.] 
This  was  the  first  thorough  awakening  to  the  needs  of  the  work,  and 
my  duty  and  privilege.  I  came  home  full  of  enthusiasm;  and  we 
formed  a  Missionary  Society,  in  our  little  feeble  scattered  church, 
that  Spring.  Then  was  first  realized  the  delight  of  such  labors.  About 
this  time  there  arose  a  strong  feeling  in  respect  to  the   choosing  of 


24  THE    PATH   SHE   TROD. 

a  husband.  I  did  not  dare  to  accept  any,  unless  b}^  so  doing  I  should 
take  upon  me  the  duties  of  a  Minister's  wife.  Also,  the  impression 
or  knowledge  was  then  realized  that,  if  I  should  give  myself  heartily 
to  the  work,  the  result  would  be  my  own  going. 

"At  the  Meeting  of  our  Presbyterial  Society,  at  Cranbury,  in 
Fall  of  1877,  I  was  bro't  out  by  Mrs.  R.  T.  Haines  as  one  who  was 
thinking,  or  was  willing,  to  go;  and  by  Miss  Loring,  at  the  Meet- 
ing in  Philadelphia,  in  the  Spring  of  187S;  and,  by  Mrs.  Schenk,  was 
made  satisfied  as  to  (the  then)  present  duty. 

"In  the  Spring  of  1878  our  Presbyterial  Secretary,  Mrs.  Hodge 
[wife  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Hodge,  D.  D.,  of  Burlington],  died;  and  in  1879 
I  was  appointed  Secretary,  and  attended  the  Philadelphia  Meeting. 
I  set  about  the  work  with  all  my  might,  I  made  my  first  Report  to 
the  INIeeting  at  Allentown,  in  1880. 

"At  the  Meeting  in  Salem,  N.  J.,  in  the  Fall  of  1880,  read  a  Re- 
port. Miss  Morton's  words,  'I  tho't  you  were  just  the  one  to  go.' 
Confidential  talk  with  Mrs.  Turner  [Mrs.  C.  P.  Turner,  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Society].  For  the  first  time  addressed  J.  on. the  subject  [her 
brother  Julius].  Received  from  Mrs.  T.  the  requirements  needful  for 
the  unmarried  lady  upon  entering  the  work. 

"Within  the  last  year,  the  Summer  of  1880,  I  can  thank  my 
cousin  Hattie  Scott  for  her  words  of  encouragement,  the  first  received ; 
that  assured  me  I  could  be  made  use  of,  and  suggested  Africa  as  the 
most  needy  field.  And  I  feel  I  would  be  willing  to  go,  if  only  as  an 
assistant  for  Mrs.  Bushnell,  in  her  labors  of  love.  As  this  tho't  is 
more  and  more  developed,  I  thank  God  that  it  is  so,  for  I  can  have 
my  hope,  that  God  has  called  me  to  the  work,  strengthened." 

From  a  report  of  the  meeting  at  Jamesburg,  in  1881:  "Some 
time  during  this  period,  alone,  and  during  prayers,  I  gave  myself  to 
God  and  this  special  work,  should  He  call  me  to  it. 

"Mrs.  Turner  advised  me  to  write  to  Mrs.  Perkins  [Secretary  I\Irs. 
S.  C.  Perkins]  and  offer  myself.  I  have  done  so,  and  am  waiting  a 
reply. 

"I  attribute  my  growth  in  desire  after  more  knowledge,  more 
zeal,  more  faith,  and  a  growth  in  strength  and  love,  to  increased 
study  of  and  a  love  for  God's  Word." 

She  also  refers  to  her  decision  for  Africa  in  June,  ISSl,  and  her 
marriage  in  October,  1881. 

The  Rev.  B.  S.  Everitt,  D.  D.,  of  Jamesburg,  N.  J.,  adds  the 
following  data,  written  by  him  to  me  in  a  letter  of  date  February 
18th,  1885,  in  response  to  pne  of  mine  of  October,  1884:  "She  seemed 
so  near  to  us  all.  When  the  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  Moiunouth  Presbytery 
met  in  Freehold,  April  Sth,  1879,  it  was  to  mourn  the  ileath  of  their 


1873,    THE    MISSIONARY   THOUGHT.  25 

first  Secretary,  greatly  beloved  indeed,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Hodge,  and  to  hear 
the  Seventh  Annual  Report  from  Miss  Mary  C.  Taylor,  Secretary  pro 
tern.  At  that  meeting  Mrs.  Everitt,  Mrs.  Chandler  and  Mrs.  Davis 
were  the  committee  to  nominate  officers,  who  reported  for  secretary 
Miss  M.  B.  Foster,  and  the  report  was  adoj^ted.  Mrs.  Everitt  took 
special  interest  in  the  matter,  but  it  is  fair  to  say  that  Miss  Foster  had, 
by  her  interest,  efficiency,  and  devotion  in  the  society  and  the  cause, 
won  such  a  place  as  made  her  name  the  only  one   thought  of. 

"The  next  meeting  was  at  Allentown,  April  13th,  1880.  In  the 
light  of  subsequent  events,  two  sentences  in  her  admirable  report  are 
prophetic.  Speaking  of  the  death  of  her  friend  Helen  Parker,  'who 
will  one  day  mingle  their  voices  with  her's  in  ascribing  blessing  and 
honor  and  glory  and  power  unto  Him  who  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and 
unto  the  Lamb;'  at  the  close,  'We  have  given  our  money,  we  have 
given  our  prayers.  But,  the  work  in  Foreign  lands  needs.  Oh!  how 
urgently,  men  and  women.  The  Israelites  gave  not  only  the  best  of 
the  flock,  the  first  fruits  of  the  land  but  the  first  born,  to  their  God. 
Who  of  us  will  answer,  "Speak  Lord,  for  Thy  servant  heareth,"  and 
thus  hearing  the  call  to  this  work,  cheerfully  and  promptly  obey?' 
Evidently  her  mind  was  then  deeply,  solemnly  and  carefully  consid- 
ering her  personal  duty. 

"The  next  meeting  was  at  Jamesburg,  April,  1881.  And  how  much 
we  enjoyed  having  her  as  our  guest!  Truly,  her  heart  was  full  of  it! 
The  admirable  report  she  then  gave  was  printed.  Truly,  as  I  read 
it  I  find  near  the  close  a  description  of  the  effect  of  mission  work  on 
the  women  engaged  in  it  that  is  eloquent  and  touching.  It  begins, 
'Aye!  well  may  we  desire  them  to  be  thus  engaged.' 

"Besides  her  well-stored  mind  and  loving  heart,  she  was  divinely 
trained  for  the  work.  The  Lord  led  her  to  desire  it,  and  then  en- 
dowed her  for  it." 

Miss  Foster's  relative.  Miss  Hamiah  More  Johnson,  in  a  short 
sketch  of  her  life,  wrote  of  this  period:  "A  scene  in  April,  1879, 
probably  marks  the  time  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  finally 
decided  on  her  life  work.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Miss'y  Soc'y  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  holding  its  Annual  Meeting  in  Philadelphia; 
and  she,  with  other  friends  from  New  Jersey,  was  present.  As  mis- 
sionary addresses  were  the  order  of  the  session,  an  invitation  was  given 
to  all  who  were,  who  had  been,  or  who  ever  expected  to  be  mission- 
aries, to  come  to  the  front  that  morning,  and  take  seats  together. 

"Miss  Foster,  sitting  at  the  furthest  end  of  a  seat  full  of  ladies, 
heard  the  call  in  silence;  but  some  minutes  afterward,  when  all 
who  had  been  named  had  taken  their  seats  on  or  near  the  platform, 
she  arose,  and  with  heightened  color  and  trembling  voice  asked  to  be 


26  THE    PATH    SHE    TEOD. 

allowed  to  pass  out  into  the  aisle.  In  response  to  an  inquiring  look, 
she  bent  low,  and  whispered,  '  I  must  go ;  I  don't  belong  here.'  Then, 
making  her  way  out,  she  joined  the  little  group  to  which,  as  we  now 
know,  she  truly  belonged." 

As  a  souvenir  of  one  of  those  missionary  meetings,  I  find  among 
Mrs.  Nassau's  papers  a  typewritten  copy  of  "Beulah  Land"  in  imi- 
tation of  script  and  endorsed  in  pencil:  "Sept.  1,  1879:  printed 
from  the  press  of  Mrs.  R.  T.  Haines."  Before  me  are  two  little 
booklets,  one  labeled,  "Mission  Items,  begun,  Clover-Nook,  Aug., 
1879."  It  also  contains  her  answers  to  test  questions  "in  a  Bible 
Correspondence  School;"  the  other  containing  notes  and  memo- 
randa of  the  order  of  exercises  and  addresses  and  remarks  made  by  the 
speakers  at  the  New  Jersey  Synodical  W.  F.  M.  S.,  held  at  Salem, 
N.  J.,  October  7th,  1880.  The  former  contains  materials;  sugges- 
tions for  plans  of  work;  advice  for  organizations,  &c.,  in  penciled 
reports  of  letters  or  addresses  of  prominent  W.  F.  M.  S.  leaders; 
e.  g.,  "Mrs.  Haines,  July,  '79."  "This  for  Spring  of  '80."  "Mrs. 
Haines,  Aug.,  '79."  "Mrs.  Turner, '79."  "Query:  Has  Monmouth 
Presbytery  ever  sent  out  a  missionary  to  foreign  fields?"  Also,  a 
compilation  of  the  statistics  contained  in  the  annual  reports  of  the 
Monmouth  Presbytery  W.  F.  M.  S.,  from  its  first  report,  in  1873,  to 
its  seventh,  in  1879.  Also  among  "Thoughts  for  Use,"  the  very 
first  is  from  Mrs.  A.  Van  R.  Hodge  (her  secretarial  predecessor). 
"It  is  as  strong  a  command  to  give  of  our  means  to  support  Christ's 
Church  as  it  is  to  profess  his  name." 

Of  Miss  Foster's  spiritual  conflicts  in  that  period,  I  find  memo- 
randa of  thoughts  she  had  copied  from  books  and  magazines  that 
had  assisted  her. 

Under  date  of  Barnegat,  May  9th,  1878,  copied  fi-om  The  Presby- 
terian, is  the  following: — 

"When  the  child  says,  'Mamma,  give,'  or,  'May  I  eat  this  apple?' 
and  the  mother  replies,  'No,  my  child,'  she  has  answered  the  petition 
as  truly  and  kindly  as  when  she  says,  'Yes,  my  darling.'" 

And  under  date  of  May  9th,  1880,  a  poem  from  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain Preslnjterian,  by  C.  P.  Treat,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  entitled,  "My 
Yoke."  "Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me."  Math.  11 :  29; 
the  lines  beginning: — 

"  Xo,  Lord,  I  cannot,  cannot  wear  this  yoke 
Thou  off 'rest  me;  'tis  rest  I  seek  of  Thee," 

and  closing, 

"Now  light 
From  His  fair  face,  as  side  by  side  we  go." 


1873,    THE   MISSIONARY   THOUGHT.  27 

Evidently  something  in  Mary  Foster's  religious  experience  at  that 
time  found  a  response  to  the  thoughts  of  that  poem.  Tied  in  the 
same  little  package  with  the  preceding  is  a  booklet,  "How  to  enter 
into  Rest,"  endorsed  "  Lakewood,  Nov.,  1880;  from  Mrs.  Hovey." 

Without  date,  but,  from  the  chirography  and  other  internal 
evidence,  written  before  1880,  I  find  the  following  part  of  a  note  for 
one  of  her  pupils.  It  shows  that  she  herself  had  already  decided  on 
the  Master's  call : — ■ 

"'The  Master  has  come,  and  calleth  for  thee.' 
Henceforth,  then,  it  matters  not 
If  storm  or  sunshine  be  my  earthly  lot, 
Bitter  or  sweet  my  cup. 
I  only  pray,  '  God  make  me  holy. 
And  arm  me  for  the  stern  hour  of  strife.' 

"May  3'ou,  my  dear  Loie,  be  so  taught  of  God  that  this  prayer  will 
be  your  loving  answer  to  the  Master,  wherever  He  calls  you  to  labor 
for  Him. 

"With  much  love 

"Your  teacher 

"  Mary  B.  Foster." 

Among  her  Barnegat  pupils  I  find  the  name  of  Miss  Lois  Robin- 
son. Probably  the  recipient  of  the  note  was  Miss  Lois  Dickinson, 
one  of  her  former  Lakewood  pupils  of  1877. 

Among  other  cherished  papers,  poems,  or  elevated  thoughts  that 
Miss  Foster  had  found  helpful  at  times  in  her  spiritual  life,  I  find 
Miss  Havergal's  "Yes,  He  knows  the  way  is  dreary,"  as  a  little 
tract,  "Be  not  Weary,"  with  a  penciled  endorsement,  "J.  E.  Haviland, 
Asbury  Park,  Aug.  9,  1881;"  and.  Miss  Havergal's  "Sit  down 
beneath  His  shadow,"  in  a  similar  little  tract,  "Under  His  Shadow," 
doubtless  of  that  same  date,  and  with  the  penciled  endorsement  of 
"J.  E.  Haviland,"  "Mr.  Carter,"  "Mrs.  Dodd,  Boonton,  N.  J." 

In  one  of  Miss  Foster's  small  blank  books,  under  date  of  Barnegat, 
January  26th,  1881,  there  are  entries  of  extracts,  from  various  sources, 
of  facts  in  foreign  missionary  information,  evidently  used  for  her 
own  education  in  The  Cause,  or  as  material  for  use  in  her  missionary 
talks  with  others.  These  memoranda  cover  mission  work  in  (fol- 
lowing Miss  Foster's  own  order)  "Turkey,  Italy,  Burmah,  Siam, 
China,  Madagascar,  India,  Japan,  Africa,  Sandwich  Islands,  Egypt, 
France." 


28  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

CHAPTER   VITI. 

1880,  Kismet. 

In  Miss  Foster's  notes  in  her  booklet  of  the  Salem  meeting,  my 
name  is  mentioned  as  the  speaker  of  the  evening.  It  is  permissible, 
therefore,  chronologically,  that  I  should  mention  myself,  as  it  was 
at  this  period  of  her  experience  that  I  appeared  in  her  life. 

Taking  a  furlough  from  Africa,  partly  for  health,  but  more  dis- 
tinctly with  the  intention  to  break  my  long  widower-hood  of  ten 
years,  I  had  arrived  in  the  United  States  in  May,  1880.  As  usual, 
I  was  invited  to  address  churches  and  societies,  and  I  met  man}^ 
parlor  and  church  entertainments  and  receptions.  I  was  seeking 
a  wife.  But  I  resented  that  the  knowledge  of  that  fact  seemed  to 
have  preceded  me  everywhere.  I  could  not  think  of  an  alliance  of 
convenience.  In  a  five  months'  search  I  had  not  found  what  I  wanted. 
Mrs.  Ware  wrote,  inviting  me  to  make  the  evening  address  at  Salem. 
I  knew  no  one  there  except  the  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  Bannard,  and  my 
relative,  Mr.  Craven,  at  whose  house  I  was  to  be  entertained.  I 
knew  nothing  of  the  afternoon  prograrnme. 

At  the  tea  hour,  when  my  cousin,  Mrs,  Anna  Sweeney,  of  Wheel- 
ing, Va.,  returned  to  Mr.  Craven's  from  the  ladies'  meeting,  she  was 
enthusiastic  in  praise  of  a  certain  Miss  Foster.  On  my  inquiring 
who  the  lady  was,  Mrs.  Sweeney  said  she  was  a  new  missionary  des- 
tined for  service  in  South  America  with  Miss  Kuhl  (who  was  on  fur- 
lough and  present  at  that  Salem  meeting).  My  cousin's  enthusi- 
astic descriptions  interested  me  in  Miss  Foster  as  a  fellow  missionary. 
I  had  no  thought  of  trying  to  rob  South  America.  I  asked  to  be 
presented  to  her  and  Miss  Kuhl  at  the  close  of  the  evening  service. 

Miss  Foster  was  frigid,  turned  away  with  my  cousin,  and  left  me 
to  escort  Miss  Kuhl.  Her  frigidity  was  perfectly  justifiable.  But 
I  did  not  learn  its  cause  until  very  long  afterward.  During  the  after- 
noon meeting,  and  actually  before  my  arrival  in  Salem,  would-be 
witty  female  tongues  had  already  begun  to  twit  her  about  the  mis- 
sionary who  was  seeking  a  wife. 

My  cousin,  writing  of  that  evening,  says:  "I  shall  never  forget 
my  little  talk  with  her  in  Salem,  N.  J.,  and  the  very  enjoyable  walk 
we  had  together  as  we  left  the  church  that  night.  She  was  a  very 
beautiful  woman,  and  looked  particularly  pretty  that  night.  She 
had  a  headache  which  flushed  her  face  and  brightened  her  eyes." 

At  the  evening  reception  in  Mrs.  Hall's  home,  our  hostess  dis- 
posed Miss  Kuhl  and  myself  in  separate  corners  with  a  surrounding 


1880,   KISMET.  29 

of  interested  listeners  to  our  tales  of  South  America  and  Africa.  I 
saw  that  Miss  Foster  also  was  the  center  of  an  animated  grouj:)  of 
young  peojile.  I  soon  learned  from  Miss  Kuhl  that  Miss  Foster  was 
not  going  with  her.  Presently  I  invaded  Miss  Foster's  group.  The 
next  morning  I  was  with  those  who  escorted  her  to  her  train. 

At  the  meeting  of  New  Jersey  Synod,  at  Bridgeton,  October  19th 
to  21st,  I  made  confidants  of  my  friends  Rev.  E.  J.  Pierce  and  Rev. 
Frank  Chandler  (who  were  also  intimates  of  Miss  Foster).  They 
were  sympathetic,  and  referred  me  to  Miss  Foster's  spiritual  "father," 
Rev.  A.  H.  Brown.  I  asked  him,  as  Presbyterial  missionary,  to 
give  me  an  appointment  to  i^reach  at  Barnegat.  He  evidently  did 
not  like  the  idea  of  losing  Miss  Foster,  but  he  gave  me  the  first  two 
Sabbaths  of  January,  1881.  Did  he  know  that  Miss  Foster  would 
be  absent  at  that  time  on  her  vacation?  I  went  to  Barnegat  in 
frightfully  cold  weather,  remained  there  nine  days,  and  occupied 
the  two  Sabbaths.  Though,  properly,  I  said  little  about  Miss  Foster, 
I  found  that  every  man,  woman  and  child  I  met  was  sounding  her 
praises. 

The  opening  page  of  one  of  her  booklets  has  an  entry,  as  if  it  was 
intended  to  be  a  diary:  "Lakewood,  N.  J.,  Jan'y  8th,  1881 : — Bought 
of  Mr.  Henry  Simons.  Uncle  Joel  Sayre  withme.  Detained  two  weeks 
at  home,  longer  than  I  expected,  from  going  to  Barnegat.  Ther- 
mometer Jan.  1,  20°  below  zero.  Snow  three  feet  deep.  Miss 
Ella  Kuhl  comes  to  L.  I  do  not  meet  her,  on  account  of  scarlet  fever 
[at  Clover  Nook]  and  bad  roads.  Hattie,  Frank  and  Jimmy  Scott 
arrive,  and  return  to  Phila.     Dr.  Nassau  goes  to  Barnegat.     I  do  not." 

Miss  Foster's  extreme  conscientiousness  .made  the  progress  of 
my  suit  a  slow  one.  First,  because  I  asked  that  her  reply  should  be 
delayed  until  it  could  be  an  assent.  Then,  another  delay,  because, 
with  commendable  pride,  she  wished  to  claim  among  her  friends  that 
her  going  as  a  foreign  missionary  was  in  virtue  of  an  appointment 
by  the  church,  and  not  simply  because  of  a  man's  invitation  to  be  his 
wife.  A  third  delay  was  caused  by  the  action  of  the  Woman's  Board 
in  answering  her  application  for  service  by  suddenly  appointing  her 
to  Persia.  In  her  extreme  loyalty  to  the  church,  she  held  that  this 
appointment  had  over  her  greater  authority  than  any  claim  of  love. 

The  Board  in  New  York,  however,  relieved  this  situation  by 
officially  informing  her  that  their  acceptance  of  her  had  not  yet  been 
followed  by  any  appointment,  and  that  the  action  of  the  Philadelphia 
officers  was  premature.  Then,  a  final  delay  arose  from  an  honorable 
feeling  that  her  own  heart  had  not  responded  to  mine  in  an  equal 
degree,  and  that  it  was  not  just  to  me  to  accept  mine  the  while  she 
offered  (what  she  called)  less. 


30 


THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 


Miss  Foster's  extremely  conscientious  devotion  to  wliatever  she 
exalted  as  duty  had  in  it  the  making  of  a  martyr.  Notwithstanding 
her  acknowledged  willingness  for  marriage,  she  was  ready  to  sacrifice 
her  love  for  me  or  any  other  man  on  that  altar  of  duty. 

She  had  a  copy  of  Miss  Havengal's  "Royal  Bounty,"  given  her 
on  April  20th,  1881,  by  her  friend  Miss  S.  B.  Cleaver,  of  Delaware. 
On  its  pages  I  find  certain  pencilings.  These,  with  the  explanations 
I  add,  show  the  conflict  that  was  going  on  between  the  woman  and 
the  martyr  during  the  Spring  of  1881. 

1881. 
April  20.    Received. 

"      22.    Expecting  Dr.  N. 

Dr.  N.  did  not  come. 


23.    Home  from  Freehold. 
Saw  Dr.  N.  a  moment. 
Saw  Dr.  Freeman. 


She  had  gone  to  Freehold  to 
consult  Mrs.  Parker  about  going 
to  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  W.  F.  M.  S. 
anniversary  meeting.  I  had  gone 
that  Saturday  to  Freehold  to 
preach  for  Dr.  Chandler  on  the 
following  Sabbath,  and  alighted 
from  the  train,  in  arriving,  just 
as  she  got  on  to  leave.  I  jumped 
on  the  train  again,  while  Chandler 
had  the  conductor  detain  it  a  few 
seconds,  followed  her  to  her  seat, 
saluted,  and  dropped  off  again. 

I  suppose  that  she  consulted 
Dr.  F.  as  to  the  state  of  her  health 
for  foreign  service. 


24.  I  wan'  to  go  to  Wheel- 
ing, W.  Va.,  but  I 
must  believe  God's 
providence  teaches  I 
need  the  discipline 
of  Barnegat. 


Not  going  to  Wheeling  was  a 
very  sharp  trial  to  her;  but,  she 
put  her  duty  to  her  little  semi- 
nary first.  She  afterwards  told 
me  that,  had  she  gone  to  Wheel- 
ing in  her  then  stage  of  feeling 
toward  me,  she  would  in  all 
probability  have  been  influenced 
to  give  me  up  and  assent  to  Mrs. 
Perkins'  wish  for  her  to  go  to 
Persia. 


1880,    KISMET. 


31 


April  25.  Wrote  to  Dr.  Ellin- 
wood,  offering  my- 
self as  a  Foreign 
Missionary. 


May  15,    These  are  my  desires;  See      page 

especially  as  I  have      Bounty." 
decided  to  give  my 
life  for  Africa. 


74      of      "Royal 


16. 


Dr.    N.    versus    Tem- 
perance Lodge. 


A  question  of  duty:  Whether 
to  encourage  a  temperance  meet- 
ing by  her  presence,  or  enjoy  the 
company  of  a  lover.  She  de- 
clined to  go  to  the  meeting  in 
order  to  be  at  home  to  receive 
me.  Long  afterwards  she  told 
me  that  she  entered  the  parlor 
that  evening,  ready  to  announce 
her  acceptance  of  my  suit,  but 
that  some  wilful  feeling  made 
her  continue  the  delay. 


22.    Received 


General 


Journal. 
Received  New  Tes- 
ment,  Revised  Ver- 
sion. 
G.  T.  Cranmer;  Rev. 
A.  H.  Brown, 
preaches. 


I  sent  the  Journal  from  Buffalo. 


Her    friend,     subsequently    a 
New  Jersey  State  Senator. 


24.  Letter  from  Dr.  Low- 
rie,  saying  I  had 
been  accepted  as 
one  of  their  mis- 
sionaries. 


25.  Letter  from  Mrs.  Per- 
kins saying  I  had 
been  appointed  to 
Persia. 


32 


THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 


May  29. 


Mr.  Inman  ordained 
Elder.  Ella,  il/r.  G. 
and  May,  not  brought 
in. 


30,  Sewing  Society 
Mrs.  Atkinson's. 
Went. 


Mr.  Inman  was  the  onlj'  male 
member  of  the  little  Barnegat 
church. 

For  Mr.  H.  C.  Gulick  and  his 
younger  daughter,  May,  Miss 
Foster  had  been  very  anxious. 
Miss  Ella  Bodine  was  one  of  her 
pupils. 


The  month  is  not   named: 
may  have  been  in  April. 


It 


June    2.    Looking    for    a    letter 
that  does  not  come. 

Spoke  to  of 

my  desires  for  God's 
Spirit  to  rest  upon 

heart.      God 

grant  me  the  privi- 
lege of  giving  to 
enrich  others,  of 
this  "  God-given 

treasure." 


A  continuance  of  the  conflict 
between  the  woman  and  the 
martyr  The  former  was  look- 
ing for  a  letter  which  the  latter 
had  forbidden  me  to  write.  I 
have  no  idea  to  whom,  or  of 
whom,  this  refers. 


19. 


Morning.     Letter  from 

Mrs.  Perkins  asking 

for  a  decision. 
P.    M.       Letter   from 

Dr.  N.      First  since 

his  departure. 


Letter    received    from 
Batavia.     Urgent. 


Sabbath.  Mr.  Lmian 
in  School-room. 

Mr.  CJ.  T.  Cranmer  a 
little  while  in  sit- 
ting-room. 

My  last  birthday  in 
this  country. 


My  last  visit  to  Miss  Foster 
had  been  on  May  16th,  just  ber 
fore  going  to  Buffalo  for  General 
Assembly. 

I  wrote  from  Batavia,  N.  Y., 
the  home  of  my  brother-in-law, 
Rev.  William  Swan,  on  my  way 
back  from  Assembly. 


1880,    KISMET.  33 

June  20.    Rehearsal     in     Barne-  I  suppose  of  her  school  closing 

gat.  exercises. 

"      28.    Dr.     N.     and    all,     at  Visiting      at      the       "Willow 

Uncle's.  Grange"  home  of  Miss  Foster's 

uncle,  Rev.  Isaac  Todd.  Rev. 
A.  H.  Brown  was  there  also  a 
part  of  the  time,  with  her  broth- 
er's family. 

July     8.    Read  Memoir  of  Mrs.  When  Miss  Foster  assured  me 

R.  H.  Nasmu,  that  my  being  a  widower  had 
"Crowned  in  Palm-  not  been  one  of  the  causes  of 
land."  her  attitude  towards  me,   I  pre- 

sented her  step-mother  with  a 
a  copy  of  the  book. 

"        9.    Rode     to     Mrs.     Van 
Hise. 
Moonlight,    delightful. 

Oct.     9.    Last  Sabbath  in  Hol- 
manville. 

1881. 
Oct.    10.    Married,  in  Lakewood. 

"      11.    Jersey  City.  Meeting  of  W.  F.  M.  S.  on  Mrs. 

Nassau's  way  to  Philadelphia. 

"      12.    Sailed     from      Phila., 
str.  "Ohio." 

"      25.    Arrived    in    Liverpool. 

"      29.    Started      for      Africa, 
S.  S.  "Corisco." 

Nov.  28.    S.  S.  "Corisco."  I  had  spent  part  of  the  evening 

on  deck  singing  with  my  guitar 
for  Mrs.  Nassau.  It  was  the 
seventh  weekly  observance  of 
our  marriage. 

Dec.     4.    Elobi,  West  .Airica. 

"      25.    Arrival  at  Andgnde.  Christmas. 


34 


THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

June,  1880,  Turning  of  the  Ways. 

That  wonderful  conscientiousness  carried  on  its  conflict  until 
the  11th  of  June,  1881.  Among  Miss  Foster's  papers  of  that  same 
date  is  a  draft  of  a  letter  of  refusal,  wiitten  in  ink,  with,  reasons  for 
Persia  as  against  Africa..  But  at  the  foot  of  the  page  is  a  space, 
and  then  in  lead-pencil  the  words,  "She  didn't."  On  the  next  page 
a  pen  draft  of  acceptance  and  on  the  last  page  a  weighing  of  reasons 
for  Africa  as  against  Persia. 

Persia.  Africa. 

The  unmarried  woman  careth  She  that  is  married  careth  for 

for  the  things  of  the  Lord,  that      the  things  of  the  world,  how  she 
she  may  be  holy  both  in  body      may  please  her  husband, 
and  spirit. 


He  that  standeth  steadfast  in 
his  heart  doeth  well. 


Let  him  do  what  he  will,  he 
sinneth  not ;  let  them  marry. 


He    that    giveth    her    not    in 
marriage  doeth  better. 


He   that   giveth   her   in   mar- 
riage doeth  well. 


Mrs.  Perkins,  decision. 
Word    already    gone    to    Persia, 
and  Mr.  Barrett. 


Africa. 
Language  easy. 
Sympathy. 
Household  duties. 


Dr.  N's  love. 


Persia. 
Language  difficult. 
Loneliness. 
Undivided  time. 


The  Spartan  bravery  that  would  have  sacrificed  her  love  on  the 
altar  of  a  supposed  duty  vindicated  itself.  But  love  triumphed  and 
proved  that  it  was  not  really  in  conflict  with  duty. 

A  letter  of  Miss  Foster,  under  date  of  June  29th,  1881,  in  response 
to  my  sister  Isabella's  note  of  welcome,  is  characteristic,  and  reveals 
her  heart  attitude  at  that  time:  "Please  accept  from  me  my  sin- 
cerest  thanks  for  your  words  of  Christian  love  and  greeting,  as  an 
honored  worker  in  Christ's  vineyard. 


JUNE,    1880,    TURNING   OF   THE   WAYS.  35 

"My  corner  has  been  very  small,  and  my  consecration  to  God 
and  His  cause  neither  as  pure  nor  as  entire  as  must  have  character- 
ized the  labors  of  her  who  so  kindly  welcomes  me  to  the  circle  of 
Missionaries. 

"My  iDersonal  interest  in  mission-labor  has  not  been  of  the  long- 
continued  growth  which  you  speak  of  in  regard  to  yourself.  Tho' 
at  a  later  day,  the  call  has  been  recognized  by  me,  I  trust  our  Heav- 
enly Father  will  so  endue  me  with  His  Spirit  that  I  shall  be  enabled 
and  made  willing  to  do  successfully  the  entire  work  that  Father  has 
for  me  to  do. 

"My  dear  Miss  Nassau,  you  touch  me  more  than  I  can  express  by 
your  tender  reference  to  the  memory  of  your  sainted  Parents.  In- 
deed, true  it  is,  that  the  'truest,  holiest  heritage'  a  child  can  receive, 
is  the  memory  of  the  devoted  consecrated  life  of  the  sainted  Father 
and  Mother.  The  sorrow  of  my  life  is  expressed  in  one  word,  father- 
less. For  sixteen  years  has  this  been  written,  and  I  have  urged  the 
full   and    rich    promises    of    God   to    such. 

"And,  if  I  may  enter  upon  the  blessing  of  those  whose  Hves,  in 
their  Christ-like  loveliness,  were  not  unknown  even  to  me,  a  stranger, 
these  whom  you  knew  and  loved  as  Parents,  my  heritage  will  indeed 
be  a  double  one.  I  look  forward  to  entrance  upon  the  twofold 
duties  of  my  future  life,  most  acutely  sensible  of  my  insufficiency. 
May  God  give  grace!" 

My  sister.  Miss  I.  A.  Nassau,  writing  in  September,  1881,  to  Mrs. 
Reading  at  Kangwe,  on  the  Ogowe  River,  Southwest  Africa,  says: 
"I  am  sure  you  will  love  and  admire  the  noble  woman  who  consented 
to  leave  another  Mission  to  become  the  wife  of  my  brother  Hamill, 
and  to  go  to  our  Africa.  Mrs.  Perkins  says,  'I  wanted  her  for  Per- 
sia, but  am  glad  Africa  has  won  her. '" 

It  proved  true,  Mrs.  Reading  did  "love  and  admire  the  noble 
woman."  Mrs.  Nassau  had  no  truer,  more  loving,  more  apprecia- 
tive, and  more  devoted  friend  in  her  life  in  Africa  than  Mrs.  Reading. 

Writing  later,  in  October,  1881,  to  Mrs.  Reading,  Miss  Nassau 
adds:  "A  new  joy  is  indeed  before  you,  in  the  arrival  of  my  brother 
Hamill's  wife.  She  is  a  rare  and  lovely  woman;  and  we  are  all  more 
thankful  than  we  can  find  language  to  express,  that  the  Saviour  has 
provided  such  a  companion  for  his  lonely  and  pioneer  life  on  the  Ogowe 
river." 

After  the  Uth  of  June,  1881,  came  four  months  of  preparation 
crowded  with  the  closing  of  her  Barnegat  Seminary,  good-bye  visits 
to  relatives  in  Utica,  Warsaw,  and  other  homes  of  her  family,  or  of 
her  childhood  in  New  York,  and  to  friends  in  New  Jersey,  at  Lake- 
wood,  Clayton,  and  other  places. 


36  THE   PATH   SHE   TROD. 

The  maidenly  dignity,  that  had  so  long  kept  itself  in  jDolite  reserve, 
relaxed  and  revealed  to  me  a  part  of  ]\Iiss  Foster's  nature  that  before 
had  been  known  only  to  her  intimates.  With  them  she  could  be 
humorous  and  even  assist  in  jokes,  practical,  but  never  unkind.  I 
had  been  visiting  my  sister,  Mrs.  Lowrie,  of  Warrior's  Mark,  Pa. 
Finding  in  her  orchard  a  very  fine  variety  of  apple,  I  sent  to  Miss 
Foster  a  few  in  a  paper  box.  That  box  had  contained  corsets  of  the 
"Adjustable  Duplex"  kind;  and,  unfortunately,  that  name  was 
plainly  visible  on  it.  From  my  sister's  I  visited  Miss  Foster  at  her 
Holman\dlle  home,  in  August,  1881,  carrjang  a  number  of  those  apples 
in  my  summer  overcoat  pockets.  I  hung  the  overcoat  in  the  hall. 
Xext  morning  I  found  the  pockets  empty.  There  was  a  good  deal 
of  laughing  between  Miss  Foster  and  her  cousin.  Miss  Hattie  Todd, 
with  frequent  references,  in  our  conversation,  to  "apples."  I  did 
not  "let  on."  But  I  wrote  Miss  Foster  an  acrostic  on  her  full  name, 
referring  in  "occult  rhyme"  to  her  as  the  "fair  culprit."  She  made 
no  acknowledgment,  and  the  joke  was  carried  on.  She  rode  with 
me  to  Lakewood  for  my  train,  and  on  the  way  stopped  at  the  post 
office,  from  which  she  emerged  with  the  following  letter,  of  date  August 
8th,  sealed  and  stamped  for  the  occasion:  "Understanding  you  to 
be  partial  to  apples,  I  venture  to  recommend  a  new  variety,  grown 
on  the  fair  hills  of  Penna.,  and  possessed  of  all  the  rare  and  delightful 
qualities  which  make  up  this  most  delicious  fruit  in  its  most  perfect 
state.  Do  not,  pray,  be  startled  by  the  name;  but,  I  have  it  from 
its  native  home;  therefore,  there  can  be  no  mistake.  If  I  can  tempt 
you  to  try  this  fruit,  inquire  among  the  Pennsylvanians,  for  the 

'Adjustable  Duplex' 
Other  names  'occult  in  rhyme'  are  furnished  only  to  special  appli- 
cants, and  at  such  times  when  the  Muses  grant  their  generous  aid." 

There  were  four  days,  August  8th  to  11th,  spent  at  Asbury  Park, 
attending  particularly  the  missionary  meetings,  in  connection  with 
the  "Seaside  Sabbath-school  Assembly"  of  August  2d  to  12th,  ISSl, 
held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey. 

During  September  there  were  visits  to  Philadelphia  by  Miss  Foster 
for  purchases  for  Africa.  She  deeply  appreciated  the  generous  re- 
ception of  her  by  Mrs.  Malone,  wife  of  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Malone,  and  a 
cousin  of  my  first  wife. 

Miss  Foster  had  dreaded  to  hear  the  name  "step-mother."  But, 
though  she  knew  that  my  two  sons  would  continue  as  they  had  been, 
in  the  care  of  their  aunts,  and  that  there  would  be  no  occasion  for  her 
to  assume  any  charge  over  them,  she  recognized  that  the  relation 
she  was  soon  to  sustain  to  me  would  legally  (and  might  actually)  de- 
volve some  responsibility.     This,  she  loyally  was  ready  to  accept. 


JUNE,    ISSO,    TURNING    OF   THE    WAYS.  37 

And  she  was  pleased  with  the  boys'  courteous  acknowledgment  of  the 
situation. 

There  was  a  visit  at  Clayton,  X.  J.,  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
local  W.  F.  M.  S.,  on  September  28th.  How  Miss  Foster  valued  her 
friends!  Here  are  lists  in  an  address  book  of  all  the  family  relatives, 
connections,  and  friends,  very  carefully  revised  and  added  to,  lest, 
accidentally,  any  one  with  even  the  remotest  claim  should  be  over- 
looked in  sending  our  wedding  cards  and  in\'itations  and  parting 
photographs.  Cards,  "than  which,"  as  the  Philadelphia  engraver, 
with  professional  pride,  wrote  in  rendering  his  bill,  "nothing  more 
tasteful  had  gone  out  from  either  New  York  or  Philadelphia." 

And  how  the  relatives  and  friends  and  former  pupils  responded 
with  their  felicitations  during  July,  August,  and  September,  and  their 
acknowledgment  in  October!  These  loving  letters  were  not  de- 
stroyed. They  were  taken  to  Africa  as  treasures.  Here  they  lie 
before  me,  scores  of  them! 

As  the  time  for  the  departure  to  Africa  approached,  the  days 
were  crowded  with  jDlans  and  letters  and  notifications  to  a  long  list 
of  relatives  and  friends,  and  confusions  by  changes  of  dates,  and  shop- 
ping for  iDurchases  for  the  coming  African  life. 

To  hundreds  of  friends  were  sent  the  following  "Announcements." 

"Reception.  To  Miss  Mary  B.  Foster,  under  the  direction  of  Mrs. 
Joel  Parker,  on  the  afternoon  of  Thui-sday,  Oct.  6th,  at  Freehold, 
X.  J.,  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Rev.  Frank  Chandler,  Pastor. 

"Farewell.  To  Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau,  M.  D.,  on  the  evening  of 
Sabbath,  Oct.  9th,  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  North-western  Presbyter- 
ian Church,  corner  of  19th  and  Master,  Rev.  J.  S.  Malone,  Pastor. 

"Marriage.  At  Lakewood,  N.  J.,  Monday,  Oct.  10th,  at  7.30 
P.M. 

"Missionary  Addresses.  In  the  Lakewood  Presbyterian  Church, 
Monday,  Oct.  10th,  from  8  to  9  P.  :M. 

"Departure.  On  the  American  Line  steamship  'Ohio,'  from 
Philadelphia,  at  noon  of  Wed'y,  Oct.  12th." 

The  place  of  the  reception  was  changed,  it  being  preferred  to  hold 
it  in  the  parlor  of  ^Ir.  Richardson's  Female  Seminary,  where  Miss 
Foster  had  graduated  in  1867.  There  were  met  many  mutual  friends 
of  Miss  Foster  and  myself.  With  graceful  addresses  there  was  made 
to  her  the  presentation  of  an  organ,  as  one  of  her  wedding  gifts,  by  her 
associates  in  the  Monmouth  Presbytery,  W.  F.  M.  S. 

In  the  departure,  one  of  the  last  bonds  to  be  severed  was  Miss 
Foster's  secretaryship  in  that  society.  I  find  two  scraps  of  paper 
(without  date,  but  e\adently  written  in  1881)  on  which  is  a  penciled 
draft  of  a  resignation  of  that  secretaryship.     Apparently  that  letter 


38  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

was  not  completed  nor  sent,  or,  if  sent,  not  accepted;  for  her  final 
resignation  was  written  later  (probably  in  Januar}^,  1882),  after  her 
arrival  in  Africa:  "The  path  of  life  has  not  been  without  pleasant 
surprises  and  accepted  gifts.  But  there  was  one  honor  given  by 
friends,  than  which  none  others  exceeded  in  deep  joy  of  receiving 
and  unmitigated  satisfaction  and  profit  in  holding.  That  honor  I 
must  now  resign.  More  than  two  years  ago  a  letter  was  placed  in 
my  hand,  which  told  me  of  the  action  of  the  Ladies  of  Monmouth 
Presbyterial  Society,  and  offered  to  me  the  Secretaryship  of  that 
Society.  I  could  only  express  my  appreciation  of  this  honor  by 
falling  on  my  knees  before  God,  telling  Him,  as  was  possible  to  none 
other,  the  joy  of  that  hour.  I  accepted  the  position,  and  accepted  it 
as  a  call  from  God,  a  permission  from  Him  to  more  earnestly,  more 
entirely,  devote  my  time  and  tho'ts  to  this  grand  work.  And  so, 
as  under  His  eye,  have  I  imperfectly,  yet  prayerfully  and  earnestly, 
endeavored  to  perform  the  duties  of  this  position. 

"It  is  more  than  sad  to  know  of  the  little  God  has  permitted  me 
to  do  for  the  furtherance  of  this  cause  in  our  midst.  But  I  bow  in 
humble  gratitude  before  the  knowledge  of  what  God  has,  by  His 
Spirit,  done  for  your  unworthy  Secretary,  in  permitting  her  to  devote 
herself  still  more  entirely  to  this  work,  and  in  preparing  the  way  for 
her  to  go  to  those  distant  parts  which  you  may  not  be  able  to  reach 
by  personal  labor.  You  will  find  in  your  constitution,  as  one  of  the 
objects  to  be  reached  by  the  Society,  this:  The  sending  of  our  num- 
ber to  the  foreign  field.  When  I  read  it,  my  heart  leaped;  and  the 
question  came  to  me.    Self-convicted,  I  asked,  '  Why  not  go  yourself? ' 

"I  did  not  then  know  of  the  earnest  prayers  of  friends,  dear  friends 
of  Freehold,  too,  who,  perhaps  at  that  time,  were  asking  God  to  pre- 
pare some  one  for  this  especial  work.  Your  prayers  are  being  an- 
swered. God  grant  the  continuance  of  those  answers,  till  there  be 
no  lack  of  workers  for  Foreign  Missions." 

Perhaps  this  was  intended  to  be  presented  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Monmouth  Society,  held  at  Jamesburg,  April  13th,  1881. 
There  lies  before  me  Miss  Foster's  penciled  draft  of  the  ninth  annual 
report  to  that  meeting. 

With  a  courtesy  so  graceful  that  Miss  Foster  could  not  resist, 
citizens  of  Lakewood,  led  by  the  family  of  Rev.  A.  H.  Dashiell,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  insisted,  as  a  demonstration  of 
the  affection  and  respect  entertained  for  her  by  that  community,  on 
taking  the  arrangements  for  her  marriage  out  of  the  hands  of  her 
family;  and  they  arranged  for  a  jDublic  ceremony  in  the  Lakewood 
Presbyterian  Church,  starting  thither  from  the  Dashiell  home,  as  if 
it  was  her  own  home. 


JUNE,    1880,    TURNING    OF    THE    WAYS,  39 

This  arrangement  was  also  a  favor  to  the  famihes  of  both  parties, 
some  of  whom  came  a  long  distance;  and  there  were  not  in  Lakewood, 
at  that  time,  ample  livery  facilities  for  a  five-mile  ride  out  into  the 
country  to  "Clover  Nook,"  the  Foster  home. 

The  Merrimans  and  other  Lakewood  citizens  took  to  their  homes, 
as  their  own  guests,  such  of  the  invited  visitors  to  the  marriage  as 
could  not  conveniently  leave  on  a  railroad  train  after  the  10  P.  M. 
reception  at  Mrs.  Dashiell's. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Dashiell  and  Brown,  and  Dr.  Merriman  stood  at 
the  railroad  station  to  receive  and  locate  the  guests.  Lieut.  Cranmer, 
of  Barnegat,  and  Mr.  Harrison,  of  Lakewood,  acted  as  ushers  at  the 
church.  Miss  Foster  was  escorted  by  her  brother.  The  four  attend- 
ants were  her  cousins.  Miss  Hetty  Scott,  of  India,  Miss  Linuie  Bart- 
lett  and  her  brother  Mr.  Floyd  J.  Bartlett,  of  Warsaw,  N.  Y.,  and  my 
cousin,  Mr.  Samuel  McC.  Hamill,  Jr.,  of  Lawrenceville,  N.  J.  The 
church  was  crowded. 

The  following  account  of  the  marriage  appeared  in  the  Lakewood 
local  newspaper;   I  do  not  know  who  was  the  writer: — 

"Married,  In  Lakewood,  on  October  10th,  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Todd 
(the  uncle  of  the  bride),  assisted  by  Rev.  A.  H.  Dashiell,  D.  D.,  and 
Rev.  Allen  H.  Brown,  Rev.  R.  Hamill  Nassau,  M.  D.,  Missionary  of 
the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa, 
to  Mary  Brunette,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Julius  Foster  of  Towanda, 
Penn'a.  The  marriage  of  Miss  Foster  to  Dr.  Nassau,  which  was 
solemnized  at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  on  Monday  evening,  awak- 
ened an  unusual  interest,  not  only  from  the  fact  that  she  had  conse- 
crated her  life  to  the  work  of  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  '  Dark  Con- 
tinent,' but  chiefly  because  she  had  endeared  herself  to  so  many,  as  a 
teacher  and  friend.  The  church  was  fittingly  decorated  with  flowers 
and  evergreens;  and  when  the  hour  arrived  for  the  marriage,  the 
building  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  many  stood  without, 
unable  to  secure  seats. 

"Soon  the  bridal  company  entered,  to  the  music  of  the  'Wedding 
March,'  Dr.  Nassau  leading  the  venerable  mother  of  the  bride,  and 
the  bride  supported  by  her  brother,  Mr.  Julius  Foster,  followed  by 
the  bridesmaids  and  best  men,  all  cousins  of  the  bridal  couple. 

"The  Ceremony  began  with  an  introductory  Address  by  Dr. 
Dashiell;  and  then  the  venerable  uncle  of  the  bride  pronounced  the' 
marriage  Covenant;  and  was  followed  by  Mr.  Brown  in  an  earnest 
prayer  for  the  heavenly  benediction;  after  which  they  were  pro- 
claimed to  be  husband  and  wife.  The  pastor  of  the  church  then  offered 
the  Congratulations  of  the  community,  in  which  Miss  Foster  was  so 
well  known  and  loved;  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  A.  Gosman,  D.  D., 


40  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

of  Lawrence ville,  N.  J.,  a  brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Nassau,  who  spoke 
of  the  joy  and  blessedness  of  the  work  of  carrying  the  gospel  to  the 
heathen.  Rev.  Frank  Chandler,  of  Freehold,  an  old  friend  of  both 
the  bride  and  groom,  then  gave  a  most  touching  and  appropriate 
Address;  and  referring  to  the  homesickness  of  Dr.  Nassau  for  the 
sight  of  a  white  face,  which  led  him  on  one  occasion  to  take  a  journey 
of  something  less  than  a  hundred  miles,  merely  to  look  upon  a  white 
face,  congratulated  him  on  the  fact  that  he  could  henceforth  always 
look  upon  a  white  and  beautiful  face  without  ever  going  away  from 
home.  Mr.  Chandler  was  followed  by  the  Rev.  B.  S.  Everitt  of 
Jamesburg,  who  assured  the  married  couple  of  the  interest  and  pray- 
ers which  would  follow  them  from  the  churches  in  the  Presbytery  of 
Monmouth.  Rev.  Allen  H.  Browai  then  spoke  in  behalf  of  the 
people  and  Seminary  at  Barnegat,  the  scene  of  Miss  Foster's  recent 
labors,  a  large  number  of  her  former  pupils  and  friends  from  that 
place  being  present,  and  in  their  name  presented  the  bride  with  a 
beautiful  Photograph  Album,  and  assured  her  of  their  lasting  grati- 
tude and  love.  As  the  clergy  had  so  largely  spoken,  Mr.  Edward 
Wells,  a  lawyer  from  Peeks  kill,  and  brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Nassau, 
fitly  closed  with  an  address  representing  the  laity.  It  would  be  im- 
possible to  give  an  idea  of  the  force  and  beauty  of  these  addresses, 
breathing  the  very  spirit  of  love  for  those  dear  friends,  and  of  exalted 
estimation  of  the  cause  of  Missions,  to  which  they  had  devoted  their 
lives.  The  Missionary  Hymn  was  next  sung  with  fervor  by  the 
whole  congregation. 

"The  exercises  at  the  church  were  closed  with  prayer  by  Rev. 
George  L.  Hovey,  of  Lakewood,  and  the  benediction  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Todd. 

"After  this,  the  friends  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Nassau  were  invited  tO 
the  residence  of  the  Pastor,  which  was  thronged  by  strangers  and 
citizens.  A  bountiful  collation  was  provided  by  the  ladies  of  the 
Holmanville  and  Lakewood  churches,  and  numerous  and  elegant  gifts 
attested  the  affection  of  many  friends  of  the  bride.  After  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Nassau  had  received  the  congratulations  of  their  friends,  an 
original  poem  in  honor  of  the  bride  was  read  by  Mr.  Ralston  of  Cam- 
den, N.  J.,  and  a  very  felicitous  Address  given  by  the  Rev.  Frank 
Todd  of  Manassas,  Virginia,  to  which  Dr.  Nassau  happily  responded. 
Despite  the  long  distance  and  lengthened  absence  of  the  married  pair 
which  were  in  prospect,  no  feeling  of  gloom  pervaded  the  assembly. 
It  was  a  joyous  occasion, — everyone  was  happy. 

"Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  upon  the  ushers,  ^Ir.  Will 
Harrison,  formerly  of  Lakewood,  and  Mr.  (leorge  Cranmer  of  Barne- 
gat, for  their  admirable  management." 


JUNE,    1880,    TURNING    OF    THE    WAYS.  41 

At  Mrs.  Nassau's  suggestion,  and  without  being  aware  that  the 
newspaper  was  pubhshing  an  account  of  the  ceremony,  I  sent  to  it 
the  following  card  of  thanks: — 

"  I  wish  to  say,  as  far  as  weak  words  are  able  to  express  them,  my 
heartfelt  thanks  to  the  citizens  of  Lakewood  and  vicinity,  for  the 
touchingly  kind  manner  in  which  they  gathered  about  my  joy  on  the 
evening  of  the  10th  of  October,  and  for  the  enthusiasm  of  their  ex- 
pressed interest  in  the  Missionary  Cause  then  represented. 

"I  know  very  well  that  Miss  Mary  B.  Foster  was  the  magnet  which 
drew  toward  the  event  your  heartiest  interest. 

"Comparatively  a  stranger  to  most  of  you,  I  nevertheless  felt 
yesterday,  by  the  strength  of  the  hand-grip,  by  the  hearty  word,  and 
by  the  tearful  eye,  that  not  alone  for  the  sake  of  the  woman  of  women, 
whom  you  claimed  as  your  cherished  friend,  but  for  my  own  sake 
also,  you  had  adopted  me  in  your  affections.  In  the  decorations  of 
the  church,  the  arrangements  of  the  collation,  the  selection  of  sj^eeches, 
the  consecutive  order  of  the  exercises,  the  administration  of  the 
ushers,  the  rendition  of  the  poem,  the  display  of  gifts,  the  extension 
of  hospitality,  the  lingering  good-bye,  and  the  sincere  God-speed,  I 
find  only  cause  for  honest  pride,  and  fail,  in  the  array  of  words,  to  be 
able  to  utter  all  that  is  meant  by  Thanks. 

"The  memory  of  them  all  will  be  a  long  happy  bridge  over  which 
I  will  often  travel  to  you  from  my  African  forests." 

Of  that  ceremony  a  friend  of  Mrs.  Nassau,  Mrs.  Oscar  Robinson, 
of  Freehold,  wrote,  four  years  later,  in  her  letter  of  sympathy  to  me : 
"  I  thought  of  you  on  Oct.  10th,  your  Anniversary.  Last  year,  I  wrote 
Mary  on  that  day;  and,  within  a  week,  heard  of  her  death.  I  wrote 
her  on  that  day,  each  year.  The  recollections  of  that  evening  are 
as  fresh  in  my  mind,  as  though  it  were  but  yesterday.  I  can  see  dear 
Mary,  as  we  were  arranging  her  in  her  bridal  robes,  with  her  hands 
clasped,  and  her  eyes  raised  to  Heaven,  as  if  imploring  God's  blessing 
upon  all.  Ah!  if  I  had  only  some  of  her  christian  spirit  and  resig- 
nation! Then,  a  little  later,  I  can  hear  her  voice  mingling  with  the 
rest  in  that  missionary  hymn,  'From  Greenland's  icy  mountains;' 
and  then,  at  Mr.  Dashiell's  residence,  going  about  in  the  crowd  of 
friends,  saying  a  pleasant  word  to  each  one.  And,  when  some  one 
said  to  her  the)''  feared  her  health  would  not  be  preserved  to  her  to 
return  to  America  again,  she  replied,  '  0 !  well !  it  will  only  be  a  nearer 
way  home.'  That  reply  I  shall  never  forget.  Then,  the  next  morning, 
came  the  final  good-bye;  although  I  did  not  think  so  then.  She 
said  to  me  that  when  she  came  back,  I  must  be  prepared  to  see  her 
much  changed,  as  she  knew  the  climate  would  change  her,  if  nothing 
else.     I  replied,  'Yes,  but  Mary,  you  will  have  the  same  heart.'     I 


42  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

know  that  some  of  her  friends  did  not  think  she  would  ever  return; 
but,  I  was  not  of  that  number." 

The  vein  of  humor  which  ran  under  the  current  of  Miss  Foster's 
serious  hfe  purpose  occasionally  found  a  little  eddy,  in  the  way  of 
a  joke  (as  already  mentioned  about  my  apples).  This  welled  up, 
even  on  the  bridal  evening,  in  a  little  wave  of  amusement,  probably 
as  a  safe  reaction  from  the  extreme  solemnity  of  the  marriage  serv- 
ices. At  Mrs.  Dashiell's  the  reception  had  been  held.  And  then  a 
collation.  Then  we  were  to  return  to  the  parlor  for  further  ceremonies. 
I  left  Mrs.  Nassau,  to  re-sign,  in  another  room,  some  legal  documents 
which  marriage  had  made  invalid.  The  bride  being  thus  deserted, 
joyous  companions  of  hers  proposed  that  I  should  be  punished;  and 
some  man  was  put  forward  in  my  place.  I  do  not  know  who  he  was. 
But,  to  the  amusement  of  the  company  and  to  both  his  and  my  con- 
fusion, he  was  promptly  displaced  when  I  overtook  the  procession 
returning  to  the  parlor. 

Of  the  guests,  most  had  left  on  an  early  morning  train  of  the 
next  day,  October  11th.  Among  the  few  remaining  ones  was  Mrs. 
Joel  Parker,  with  whom  Mrs.  Nassau  and  I  went  to  Jersey  City  for  a 
meeting  of  the  New  Jersey  Synodical  W.  F.  M.  S.  The  afternoon 
exercises  were  conducted  by  Mrs.  Harris;  Mrs.  James  led  in  prayer; 
an  address  by  Mrs.  Parker;  and  I  was  called  on  for  a  short  address, 
in  which  I  thanked  them  for  the  wife  I  was  taking  from  among 
their  officers.  Leaving  on  the  train  for  Philadelphia,  Mrs.  Parker 
alighted  at  Trenton,  while  Mrs.  Nassau  and  I  went  on. 

I  had  engaged  rooms  at  the  Girard  House,  and,  on  my  notification, 
friends  were  to  gather  there  to  receive  us  in  the  evening.  But  at  the 
last  hour,  Mrs.  Nassau  so  appreciated  the  delicacy  of  the  courtesy 
of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Malone  that,  in  accepting  their  invitation  to  make 
their  house  our  home  for  the  night,  she  was  willing  to  disappoint 
the  company  that  awaited  us  at  the  hotel. 

So  beautifully  had  Mrs.  Nassau  appeared  in  her  bridal  dress  that 
many  of  her  friends  insisted  on  a  jDhotograph.  It  was  not  her  intention 
to  take  the  dress  to  Africa;  she  left  it  with  some  of  her  relatives. 
I  promised  that  a  photograph  should  be  taken  during  the  morning 
of  the  l2th,  if  Mr.  Crane  should  appear  in  time  with  the  dress.  With 
three  of  her  relatives  we  went  to  a  photographer's  by  appointment, 
but  the  dress  had  not  arrived.  It  followed  us  by  the  next  steamer, 
and  a  full  length  photograph  was  taken  in  Liverpool. 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  43 

CHAPTER    X. 

October,  1881,  To  Africa. 

A  VERY  loving  company  of  (by  count)  seventy  of  our  relatives 
and  friends  were  gathered  on  the  deck  of  the  "Ohio,"  to  say  good-bye 
at  noon  of  the  12th  of  October,  Mrs.  Nassau's  coming  particularly 
from  Holmanville,  Camden,  Palmyra,  Caldwell,  Barnegat,  Free- 
hold, Burlington,  Farmingdale,  Salem,  Warsaw,  N.  Y.,  and  Phila- 
delphia, Pa. 

As  the  steamer  slowly  drew  out  of  the  dock,  Mrs.  Nassau  stood 
on  the  deck  by  my  side,  watching  our  friends  crowded  on  the  end  of 
the  pier.  Soon  rain  drove  us  below  into  the  saloon.  It  was  the  last 
sight  of  her  American  loved  ones. 

We  took  account  of  our  fellow  passengers,  among  whom  were 
three  new  fellow  missionaries.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  William  C.  Gault  and 
Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson.  Of  the  days  on  the  voyage  I  have  little  dis- 
tinct record.    It  was  a  stormy  and  seasick  passage. 

When  the  weather  was  clear  it  was  cold.  Mrs.  Nassau  and  I 
would  sit  wrapped  in  coats,  shawls,  and  rugs,  and  study  French  for 
our  residence  in  a  French  territory.  But  there  were  successive  days 
when,  by  continuous  gales,  we  were  shut  in  from  the  deck,  sitting 
in  the  companion-way;  for,  the  saloon  air  was  too  close  for  breath- 
ing, and  its  motions  too  rough  for  writing. 

One  day,  three  sails  that  had  been  spread  to  steady  the  vessel 
were  torn  away,  and  two  boats  were  injured  on  their  da\ats. 

For  several  hours,  one  day,  the  steamer  "lay  to,"  and  part  of  the 
time  it  was  going  southeast  rather  than  east,  to  escape  the  direction 
of  the  waves. 

As  one  of  our  amusements,  while  confined  below  deck,  we  five 
missionaries  and  one  other  passenger  spent  two  days  in  preparing 
anagrams.  Separately,  we  made  lists  of  words  possible  to  be  con- 
structed from  the  letters  of  a  given  word.  One  of  them  was  "emi- 
grant." From  it,  when  we  finally  compared  our  lists,  no  one  had 
less  than  117  words,  and  the  combined  list  made  more  than  140. 

The  captain,  being  a  Roman  Catholic,  paid  us  Protestant  mis- 
sionaries but  little  attention.  On  the  first  Sabbath  the  purser  pro- 
posed having  religious  services,  which  I,  as  the  senior  clergyman,  was 
requested  to  conduct.  But  on  the  second  Sabbath  no  opportunity 
was  given.  This  was  so  unsatisfactory  to  Mrs.  Nassau's  devout  wishes 
that  in  the  evening  she  took  the  piano,  and,  with  our  fellow  mission- 


44  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

aries,  sang  hymns,  which  drew  into  our  company  others  of  the  pas- 
sengers. Just  as  we  closed  our  singing  at  10  P.  M.  the  vessel  suddenly 
slowed  and  its  fog  whistle  blew.  We  were  approaching  the  Fastnet 
lighthouse. 

On  anchoring  the  next  day  in  Queenstown  harbor,  the  first  news 
from  the  shore  was  that  during  the  preceding  week  a  hurricane, 
greater  than  had  been  known  for  years,  had  ravaged  the  British 
coasts.  Then  we  understood,  with  gratitude,  why  we  had  been  de- 
layed out  in  mid-ocean  from  reaching  land  sooner.  We  had  been 
prevented  from  running  into  the  severest  of  the  storm.  The  captain 
then  called  us  up  on  to  the  bridge  to  have  a  more  extensive  view  of 
the  roughness  of  the  sea.  On  the  next  day,  Tuesday,  October  25th, 
we  landed  at  Liverpool,  closing  a  thirteen  days'  voyage. 

The  date  for  our  sailing  had  been  largely  governed  by  uncertainty 
as  to  the  schedule  time  of  the  Liverpool  steamers  to  Africa  (less 
regular  than  they  now  are).  I  had  i^lanned  for  an  interval  between 
the  two  voyages,  in  which  to  gratify  Mrs.  Nassau  with  some  of  the 
sights  of  London.  But  on  landing  on  October  25th,  we  were  in- 
formed that  our  African  steamer  "Corisco"  was  due  to  start  on  the 
29th.  We  took  our  missionary  companions  that  evening  to  a  sub- 
scription concert  of  the  London  Philharmonic  Society.  The  music 
was  fine  and  the  audience  fashionable. 

The  intervening  four  days  gave  us  time  only  to  make  some  pur- 
chases, to  refit  our  baggage,  to  take  Mrs.  Nassau's  bridal  photograph, 
to  fulfil  the  Board's  commission  to  inquire  estimates  for  a  proposed 
mission  steamer  (instead  of  our  slow  saihng  vessel,  the  "Hudson"), 
and  to  spend  a  day  at  the  old  city  of  Chester,  an  outing  given  us  by 
our  three  associates  in  return  for  the  concert. 

Friends  in  the  United  States  had  immediately  followed  us  with 
loving  letters.  These  were  found  at  the  Board's  Liverpool  agent's. 
I  handed  them  to  Mrs.  Nassau  on  the  ferry  from  Liverpool  to  Birk- 
enhead, on  our  way  to  Chester.  They  affected  her  very  much,  as 
they  were  from  her  dear  Barnegat  jsupils. 

We  boarded  the  "Corisco"  on  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  Octo- 
ber 29th.  In  every  respect  affairs  were  more  agreeable  than  on  the 
"Ohio."  Captain  Hamilton,  a  fatherly  man,  gave  Mrs.  Nassau  the 
seat  of  honor  at  the  table,  on  his  right  hand.  Among  the  passen- 
gers, besides  our  missionary  company  of  five,  there  were  seven  clerg}'- 
men.  Rev.  Messrs.  Williamson  and  Marshall,  a  Scotch  U.  P.  delega- 
tion going  out  to  inspect  their  mission  in  the  Old  Calabar,  and  five 
English  Wesleyan  Methodists,  returning  to  their  posts  in  the  Gambia, 
at  Sierra  Leone,  and  at  Lagos.  Besides  these  congenial  ministers, 
there  were  two  (lovernment  surgeons,  Dr.  Hart,  of  Sierra  Loone,  and 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO   AFRICA.  45 

Dr.    O'Reilly,   of    Bonny;    a    French    lady,    Madame    Pecqueur,   of 
Gaboon ;  and  Miss  Macauley,  a  grand-daughter  of  Bishop  Crowther. 

All  my  life  in  Africa  I  kept  a  diary,  entering  memoranda  almost 
daily.  Occasionally  I  missed  on  a  boat  journey  or  in  the  confusion 
of  mission  meetings  or  long  sickness.  Mrs.  Nassau  began  such 
entries  in  a  diary  the  day  we  left  Liverpool;  later  on  there  are  gaps. 
But  between  her  and  my  books  I  can  account  for  almost  every  day 
of  our  three  Ogowe  years. 

Mrs.  Nassau's  Diary. 
"Sabbath,  Oct.  30th,  I  was  the  first  of  our  party  in  ladies  cabin 
to  arise.  Mr.  Robinson  walked  with  me  before  breakfast.  Rev. 
Messrs.  Williamson  and  Marshall  were  on  deck.  Services  were  held 
at  10.30  A.  M.  Rev.  Mr.  Elliott,  a  Wesleyan  Minister,  read  Episcopal 
Service;  Mr.  Marshall  the  hymn.  Dr.  Nassau  gave  the  address;  text, 
'For  the  remission  of  sins.'  Mr.  Hamilton,  our  Captain,  is  very 
kind;  more  attentive  than  Capt.  Morrison  of  the  'Ohio,'  to  us,  and 
to  every  one.  After  a  very  fine  dinner,  walked  for  some  time;  then, 
came  to  the  saloon  to  ^Tite,  but  find  my  head  and  hand  too  unsteady 
to  proceed. 

"Wed'y  Nov.  2d.  The  wind  not  so  high;  but  the  very  frequent 
showers  make  any  long  stay  on  the  deck  impossible.  An  after-lunch 
attempt  to  creep  under  one  of  the  boats,  and,  with  protection  of 
umbrella,  shawl  and  coat,  to  brave  the  rain,  proved  a  failure;  and 
we  were  driven  in.  Have  read  considerable  in  'David  Copperfield;' 
Dr.  Nassau,  more  properly,  read  to  me.  /  guess  I  have  written 
enough,  or  I  will  show  my  home-sickness." 

[That  "I  guess"  is  a  response  to  my  twitting  her  of  her  almost 
constant  use  of  it  as  a  reply,  instead  of  "Yes"  or  some  other  form 
of  assent.] 

"Nov.  3d.  Thursday.  Were  on  deck  most  of  the  day.  Read 
'David  Copperfield.'  Began  Mpongwe.  After  dinner,  the  Wes- 
leyan missionaries.  Rev.  Messrs.  PuUen,  Williams,  Elliott,  Lowe  and 
Baxter,  and  our  Scotch  Presbyterian  INIinisters,  Rev.  Messrs.  William- 
son and  Marshall,  and  our  own  party,  spent  two  hours  singing  on 
the  poop-deck. 

"Friday,  Nov.  4th;  6th  day.  After  lunch,  at  1  P.M.,  went  to 
the  deck,  but  were  soon  sent  in  by  rain.  Wrote  to  Mr,  [Rev.  A.  H.] 
Brown,  a  ten -paged  letter.  .  .  .  Enjoyed  the  dinner  very 
much.  .  .  .  Dr.  Hart,  a  surgeon  at  Sierra  Leone,  gave  me 
some  English  chestnuts,  very  large ;  the  first  I  had  ever  seen.     .     .     . 


46  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

For  the  first  time,  all  passengers  were  on  time  for  dinner,  even  the 
stranger  from  Dr.  Hart's  room.  Spent  the  evening  writing  in  saloon 
with  many  others  of  our  company.  News  came  of  our  nearing  Ma- 
deira, when,  in  a  letter  to  cousin  Hattie  [Todd]  I  made  reference  to 
certain  kinds  of  flowers  growing  on  Madeira,  and  to  plans  for  weal 
or  woe  laid  there.  Read  the  sentence  to  Dr.  Nassau,  who  did  not 
understand;  and  I,  teasingly,  would  not  explain  until  we  went  on 
deck.  And,  I  did  not  go  there,  until  all  others  had  deserted,  and 
the  bells  for  midnight  had  rung.  We  found  the  moonlight  struggling 
thro'  quite  heavy  clouds,  but,  the  dim  outlines  of  Porto  Santo  were 
faintly  seen;  and,  the  light  from  the  lighthouses  of  Madeira  glim- 
mered before  us." 

[When  I  was  at  Madeira,  on  my  way  from  Africa,  in  April,  1880, 
I  had  bought  a  wreath  of  artificial  camellias  and  orange  blossoms, 
saying  to  myself  that  with  them  I  would  crown  the  lady  who  should 
take  compassion  on  me  in  my  search  for  a  wife.  I  had  given  those 
flowers  to  Miss  Foster  in  July,  1881.  But,  stupidly,  I  failed  to  un- 
derstand her  reference  to  flowers  "growing"  on  Madeira.  And  I 
had  not  yet  become  familiar  with  a  new  phase  of  her  usually  serious 
character,  i.  e.,  ability  to  carry  a  joke  to  the  point  of  teasing.  The 
steamer  came  to  anchor  during  the  night,  with  some  alarming  sounds 
from  the  engine,  the  vessel  almost  colliding  with  lighters  and  other 
small  craft  anchored  in  the  bay.] 

"Sat'y,  Nov.  5th;  7th  day.  Madeira,  Funchal.  I  was  uneasy 
to  be  above;  but,  the  partial  darkness  came  between  me  and  the 
operation  of  dressing.  When  this  was  sufficiently  dispersed,  I  called 
for  the  toilet  case,  and  began  the  labor  in  the  berth.  Soon  I  climbed 
down,  and  in  earnest  continued  to  hasten  the  completion  of  dressing. 
Before  accomplished,  Dr.  Nassau  called  several  times  for  me  to  come, 
that  I  might  see  the  sun-rise.  Very  hastily  throwing  on  wraps,  I 
answered  his  call;  and,  as  the  beautiful  scene  appeared  to  me  above 
the  railing  of  the  stair  of  the  poop-deck,  and  was  opened  fully  up 
in  the  lights  and  shades  of  the  early  morning,  I  tho't  I  never  had 
beheld  a  more  fairy-like  expanse  of  mountain-side  and  village.  We 
lay  in  Funchal  Bay,  opposite  a  town  of  the  same  name;  the  blue 
waves  playing  about  our  stern,  giving  proof  of  the  great  depth  of 
water,  were  a  most  beautiful  foreground  to  the  picture.  To  the 
right,  the  land  sloped  gradually  to  the  sea.  To  the  loft,  an  almost 
perpendicularly  broken  rock  faced  the  sea.  Near,  but  isolated  from 
land,  is  the  Loo  Rock,  with  its  fortress  standing  high  and  boldly 
defying  waves  and  winds;    tho',  we  were  told,   said  waves  did  in 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  47 

storms  sweep  over  its  highest  point.  Directly  before  us,  lies  the 
antiquated  town;  and  behind  it  rises  the  rugged,  deep-chasmed, 
shadow-covered  hill-side . ' ' 

[Mrs.  Nassau  quotes  from  a  book  of  travel:  "In  fellowship  with 
the  rose,  the  myrtle,  the  laurel  and  cypress,  such  as  flourish  in  south- 
ern European  latitudes,  there  bloom  the  magnolias,  pomegranate, 
mango,  besides  the  banana,  coffee  and  the  sugar-cane."] 

"Sabbath,  Nov.  6th.  Teneriffe.  Sth  day.  Saw,  for  the  first 
time  [full-grown],  palm-trees.  Palma,  Gomera,  Ferno,  Grand-Canary, 
form  this  group  of  Canary  Islands.  One  writer,  Whitford,  says, 
'Teneriffe  is  about  the  most  ragged,  jagged  collection  of  sharp  peaks 
ever  jerked  above  the  surface  by  volcanoes  or  earthquake.'  We 
arrived  about  3  P.  M.  For  hours,  we  had  been  watching  the  grand 
peak,  whose  outlines  were  ever  changing  as  the  white  clouds  floated 
by  and  over  them.  At  last,  it  grandly  came  to  view;  and,  a  more 
ruggedly  picturesque  collection  of  rocks,  chasms,  and  jagged  peaks 
and  columns,  I  never  have  before  seen.  As  we  turned  around  the 
adjacent  N.  E.  point  of  the  island,  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz  appeared. 
Thro'  our  glass,  we  could  see  the  road  cut  in  the  hill-side,  and  a  party 
of  men  and  women  were  seen  walking  along  the  water-side,  while 
heavily-laden  camels  and  mules  plodded  slowly  up  and  down  the 
uneven  path.  Here  a  little  steam  tug  or  launch  towed  the  flat-boat 
containing  the  coal  to  and  from  the  steamer  and  coal-dejDot.  It 
was  interesting  to  watch  the  signals,  as  the  Captain  spoke  for 
coal,  with  the  amount,  and  the  answering  signals  from  the  fort  on 
the  hill-top. 

"Monday,  Nov.  7th.  Grand  Canary.  9th  cla}^  This  is  the 
last  port  where  white  faces  will  greet  us.  Thus  the  gradual  breaking 
of  every  tie  and'  associations  of  home  and  country. 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  8th;  10th  day.  I  am  sitting  on  quarter-deck 
on  port-side,  the  unclouded  sun  at  our  backs;  and  the  far  extended 
unbroken  line,  where  meet  the  hazy  sky  and  restless  ocean,  rises 
and  falls  upon  my  view,  as  the  vessel  slowly  rolls  from  port  to  star- 
board. [Here  Mrs.  Nassau  gives  a  minute  personal  description  of 
our  dozen  fellow-passengers.  I  resume  from  her  journal.]  Evening; 
spent  much  time  in  vainly  looking  for  the  north-star,  which  the 
captain  finally  pointed  out  to  us.  Sat  some  time  on  deck,  enjoying 
the  beautiful  moonlight  on  the  water.  Never  have  I  seen  such  warm 
bright  light,  such  fullness  of  splendor  from  the  goddess  of  the  evening. 


48  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Wed'y.,  Nov.  9th,  11th  day.  Read  in  'David  C  Read  aloud 
to  Dr.  Hamill  a  chapter  in  Benga  New  Testament.  A  great  excite- 
ment for  us  was  occasioned  by  our  going  thro'  a  large  school  of  'skip- 
jacks.' They  leap  thro'  and  above  the  water  like  porpoises.  As  far 
as  eye  could  reach,  before,  to  the  right,  and  left,  and  far  back,  were 
the  sprays,  formed  by  their  leaps,  seen.  A  steamer  was  seen  crossing 
our  bows,  or  more  to  the  westward ;  and  Capt.  Hamilton  tells  us  its 
Captain  is  the  Wilkins  who  commanded  the  S.  S.  'Ambriz'  that 
carried  Rev.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bushnell  and  I\Iiss  Cameron  [Mrs.  Marling] 
to  the  sad  ending  at  Sierra  Leone.  We  were  in  shallow  water 
to-day,  40  fathoms;  and  not  more  than  40  miles  west  of  Cape 
Blanco. 

"Thursday,  Xov.  10th,  12th  day.  Ten  years  ago  to-day,  Stanley 
discovered  Livingstone  at  Ujiji  on  Tanganyika.  We  saw,  for  the  first 
on  this  journey,  many  fl3dng  fish.  Also,  a  little  canary  came  on 
board;  and  many  of  'Mother  Carey's  chickens'  (stormy  petrels) 
followed  in  our  wake. 

"Friday,  Nov.  11th;  13th  day.  This  afternoon  spent  two  hours 
on  the  bridge  with  Capt.  Hamilton,  watching  the  entrance  up  the 
Gambia.  The  low  lines  of  white  sand  gradually  developed  into  the 
palm;  while  the  glitterings  of  Bathurst's  white  houses  were  visible; 
but,  not  until  the  last  bell  for  dinner  rang  were  we  at  anchorage, 
too  late,  as  we  supposed,  for  the  landing  of  any  of  our  passengers. 
While  still  at  dinner.  Rev.  Robert  Dixon,  of  Wesleyan  Mission,  came 
to  greet  his  fellows,  and  took  to  shore  Rev.  Messrs.  Pullen,  Baxter, 
Lowe,  and  Williams.  The  friends  of  Miss  Macauley,  two  young  men, 
came  for  her  also;  and  our  two  gentlemen  of  France  also  left  for 
Bathurst.  Comparatively  a  small  company  left  behind.  Recited 
Mpongwe.  Finished  'David  Cop-'  and  read  some  'MacLeod  of 
Dare.' 

"Saturdaj-,  Nov.  12th;  14th  day;  Bathurst,  St.  Mary's  island. 
Surely  we  are  in  the  tropics,  84°  in  the  shade !  So  very  warm  in  our 
ladies  saloon!  Slept  with  the  port-hole  open,  tho'  it  does  crowd  me 
in  the  berth  by  so  doing.  Awoke  in  time  to  close  it,  before  the  wash- 
ing of  decks  began.  Did  not  go  to  room  [last  night]  until  late.  Arose 
at  6.  Harry  bro't  us  our  cocoa.  At  7,  I  was  ready  in  my  new  pink 
lawn,  to  go  ashore.  In  the  pocket  of  my  dress,  I  found  a  pocket- 
handkerchief  marked  'H,  E,  Scott.'  Messrs.  Pullen,  Baxter  and 
Williams  did  not  arrive  until  late;  nearly  or  quite  8,  before  we  were 
handed  into  the  boat  by  the  dusky  hands  of  Africa.     By  the  side  of 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  49 

the  boat,  in  one  much  smaller,  sat  a  lad,  his  only  covering,  save  a 
narrow  strip  of  dirty  white  cloth  around  his  waist,  was  the  shining 
ebony  of  his  skin.  The  whites  of  his  eyes  and  the  pearly  teeth,  like 
gleams  of  light  across  the  dark  clouds  of  night,  were  startling  in 
their  vividness.  .  .  .  The  stalwart  blacks  made  no  play  of  our 
boat-ride;  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  our  keel  scraped  upon  the  sands 
of  the  shore.  Then  the  carriers,  Mohammedans,  with  their  blue 
over-dress,  waded  to  the  boat,  and,  one  by  one,  picked  up  the  pas- 
sengers, and  dropped  them  upon  dry  land;  a  most  peculiar  sensation 
it  was.  Several  wharves  jutted  into  the  water;  and  on  all  sat  in 
lazy  ease  the  blue  shirts,  or  actively  labored,  those  who  were  receiv- 
ing the  freight;  while  a  genuine  car  rushed  down  veritable  tracks 
laid  on  one  of  the  wharves. 

"The  shore  proved  sandy  indeed;  and  we  waded  thro'  the  native 
and  wet  grass,  which  reminded  me  of  our  New  Jersey  sand-wastes. 
But,  the  black  faces;  bright-eyed,  pleasant  faces  of  the  little  ones, 
many  or  most  of  them  entirely  nude,  save  a  narrow  strip  of  cloth 
around  waist  and  between  limbs,  and  a  string,  with  or  without  beads, 
answered  every  purpose. 

"Many  heads  were  closely  shaven;  others,  with  hair  in  little  knots 
around  the  pate,,  in  diamonds  and  squares.  Girls  with  loose  gown, 
with  holes  for  head  and  arms.  Women  with  strips  of  cloth  around 
loins  reach  to  ankle;  others  around  breast;  many  entirely  covered; 
and  a  few  European  dresses.  \ 

"Many  men  with  Mohammedan  under-dress  and  blue  flowing 
robe.  Men  with  loose  drawers,  and  cloth  over  shoulder;  strong 
muscular  fellows;  feeble  miserable  ones;  English-dressed  young  men 
and  old.  Two-storied  houses  of  stone,  plastered  and  white-washed; 
enclosed  porticos.  Streets  wide,  over-grown  with  grass,  and  with 
open  sewer  in  the  middle.  Palm  trees,  coco-,  and  fan-palm.s;  beau- 
tiful oleanders  12  ft.  high  in  full  bloom  and  luxuriance.  Parasite 
on  walls.  Guava,  banana,  papaya,  silk-cotton  (Ceiba)  trees,  large 
trees,  buttressed  trunks.  .  .  .  Lime  trees  in  garden,  tomatoes. 
.  .  .  Mr.  Baxter  our  leader.  Welcomed  to  the  Mission-house  by 
Mr.  Lowe.  Stone  steps  to  entrance;  high  cool  rooms,  most  com- 
fortable; finely  furnished  Chapel.  Long  sing  in  school-room;  bach- 
elors' arrangement;  our  inexperienced  waiters.  Breakfast  at  10 
A.  M.     Lunch  at  2  P.  M." 

[At  my  request,  our  hosts  had  sent  for  native  owners  of  Man- 
dingo  ponies  for  sale.  I  selected  one  from  one  of  the  native  Chris- 
tians, as  a  late  marriage  gift  to  Mrs.  Nassau.  The  pony  was  to  be 
paid  for  on  delivery  that  day  on  the  steamer.] 


50  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"The  bargain  was  closed;  have  the  best  of  the  lot,  we  think. 
Haste  to  get  off.  A  Mohammedan  with  gold  rings,  1  pomid  (English). 
On  road  to  ship,  the  market,  walled ;  barrels  with  cane  covers ;  women 
with  'pickaninnies'  strapped  to  the  back;  little  handfuls  of  articles 
exposed  for  sale;  ground  nuts,  boiled  sweet-potatoes;  little  tomatoes 
in  little  gourds;  slices  of  pumpkin,  masses  of  black  dried  meat,  rice; 
long  cucumbers;  dried  fish  (whew!  !  !);  ground-nuts  boiled,  tasting 
like  beans;  bitter  kola;  sticks  in  girls'  ear;  large  black  bracelet  on 
arm  of  man;  thin  tooth-pick  and  brush;  Mohammedan  'greegrees.' 
Trees  graceful,  the  coco-palm.  Tall  Mandingoes,  women  of  burden; 
Joloffs;  ground-nuts  in  enormous  quantities  exported.  Our  haste 
away;  good-nights  to  the  Wesleyans.  (Mr.  PuUen  was  not  among 
them,  but  with  Dr.  Nassau,  seeing  about  the  pony.)  Lifted  with 
trembling  into  the  boat." 

[I  was  buying  fodder  for  the  pony's  voyage,  and  arranging  with  a 
certain  English  trader  to  send  it  and  the  horse  to  the  steamer,  ex- 
pressly requesting  it  to  be  done  before  Sunday.] 

"Sabbath,  Nov.  13th;  15th  day.  Still  in  harbor  of  Bathurst.  At 
early  dawn,  the  lighters  and  boats  were  by  our  side,  and  the  noise  of 
the  engines,  whistles,  the  clanking  of  chains,  the  uproar  of  boatmen; 
the  natives,  men  and  women,  loud  jabbering;  the  loading  of  freight; 
the  peculiar  odor,  the  different  garbs,  the  entire  absence  of  the  Sab- 
bath. The  loss  of  the  horse;  the  delay  in  getting  off;  detaining 
Messrs.  Pullen  and  Lowe  until  after  their  church  time;  the  seeming 
necessity  of  business  talks,  made  this  morning  one  of  the  most  trying 
conceivable.  The  cool  breeze  tempered  the  heat  and  made  it  very 
comfortable. 

"Services  this  afternoon.  Mr.  Williamson  preached  from  'our 
conversation  is  in  heaven.'  By  his  allusions  to  home,  it  made  one 
somewhat  lonely.  ...  I  found  the  husband,  after  search, 
almost  hidden  by  the  darkness,  at  the  stern.  Expect  to  walk  and 
talk,  still." 

[In  the  lowering  of  the  horse  by  a  sling  at  the  shore  wharf,  into 
the  lighter,  on  Sunday  morning,  the  sling  had  parted  and  the  horse 
had  fallen  headlong  and  broken  his  neck.  There  was  an  uncom- 
fortable uncertainty  as  to  who  was  responsible.  Paying  for  a  dead 
horse  proved  to  be  a  necessary  Sabbath  transaction.  But  the  cir- 
cumstances sickened  me  for  the  remainder  of  the  day.] 

"Monday,  Nov.  14th;  16th  day.  The  native  women  on  board 
are  very  quiet;  at  least,  they  do  not  trouble  us;  being  kept  far  in 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  51 

forward  deck.  Yesterday,  we  had  quite  a  number  at  Services,  and 
they  seemed  more  conversant  with  the  Prayer-book  than  our  own 
people.  There  are  a  few  Mohammedan  men,  but  principally  women, 
who  are  going  to  Sierra  Leone  to  trade  in  kola-nuts.  These  are  said 
to  satisfy  hunger  for  a  long  time,  a  handful  keeping  a  man's  life 
for  a  week;  very  expensive. 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  15th;  17th  day.  Arrived  in  Sierra  Leone  [Free- 
town harbor]  at  about  4.30  A.  M.  Soon  we  saw  the  American  flag, 
and  were  greeted  by  Capt.  Lewis  [American  Consul]  expecting  Rev. 
Henry  Highland  Garnett,  D.  D.,  U.  S.  Minister  to  Liberia  [who  did 
not  come].  Consul  took  us  to  his  house;  Mr.  Yates'  store.  .  .  . 
We  visit  [Wesleyan]  High  School.  Mr.  May  [negro]  principal;  sing- 
ing. Stone  building;  school-house;  base-ball  playing;  little  boy's 
speech;  go  back  to  Mr.  Lewis.  After  dinner  .  ,  .  Messrs. 
Lewis,  Yates,  Nassau  and  self  go  to  Madam  Burton's  [Annie  Walsh 
Memorial]  Young  Ladies  Seminary;  beautiful  grounds;  frangipanni 
trees;  pleasant  tea;  contrast  in  women's  and  men's  house-keeping 
[two  negro  teachers,  one  Miss  Quaker];  her  singing  and  playing  [on 
piano].  Messrs.  Lewis  and  Yates  go  home;  we  remain;  [evening] 
prayers  [of  the  School];  pleasant  room;  effects  of  harmattan  [wind]. 

"Mr.  Burton  formerly  of  Mendi  Mission  near  the  Sherbro.  On 
road  to  Mrs.  B.,  I  rode  in  [bath-chair]  carriage  drawn  by  two  boys; 
go  thro'  the  streets;  crowded;  lighted,  oil  lamps;  this  the  great  trad- 
ing town  of  this  coast;  people  come  in  from  long  distances.  Mrs, 
Burton  motherly;  very  kind;  visited  her  dining-room;  told  me  how 
she  prepared  her  early  lunch,  'sun-rise  breakfast.' 

"Wednesday,  Nov.  16th;  ISth  day.  Up  rather  late  at  Mrs. 
Burton's;  jelly,  eggs,  crackers,  tea  for  breakfast  in  room.  Mrs. 
Burton  came  in  for  a  little  \dsit;  so  kind.  Advised  me  to  'wear 
flannel  always,  do  not  get  weary,  lie  down  often.'  We  hurried  off  by 
promise  to  be  in  Consul  Lewis'  office  by  8  A.  M.  Both  rode  in  car- 
riages [bath-chairs]  strange  horses  (?),  people,  things,  trees.  Wanted 
tulle.  Mrs.  Burton  had  sent  her  boy  to  inquire  if  such  could  be  found. 
Met  by  the  boy;  hurried  to  the  store,  went  up  stairs;  nice  sitting; 
woman  hurried  in;  took  the  yellow  tulle  for  trimming;  reached  Capt. 
Lewis." 

[There  we  met  a  native  named  "White,"  who  claimed  to  be  a 
recaptive  Fang  from  our  Ogowe  region,  which  he  called  the  "Minwe."] 

"Thursday,  Nov.  17th;  19th  day.  Arrived  in  Monrovia  about 
1  P.  M.     This  is  the  first  place  reached  m  which  we  are  not  met  by 


52  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

Custom-house  officers  and  doctors  to  give  permission  to  anchor  and 
right  to  receive  and  unload.  Dr.  Nassau  and  Mr.  Elhott  go  ashore  to 
Monrovia;  watch  them  to  the  land,  a  long  pull.  Attempt  to  sketch 
the  place.  [Her  pencil  sketch  is  good,  but  she  signed  it  with  the  witty 
criticism,  "This  is  a  pig."] 

"Much  fun  made  of  the  Government  of  Liberia.  Just  before 
dark,  company  returned,  very  wet  to  skin  [through  the  dangerous 
surf],  with  Miss  Sharpe  a  little  careless  in  dress.  [IMiss  Sharpe  was 
doing  independent  Methodist  missionary  work  among  the  Liberians. 
The  lady  was  unconventional  in  every  respect.  On  the  steamers,  no 
public  grace  is  ever  said  at  meals,  any  more  than  at  a  hotel  table.  At 
dinner  that  evening.  Miss  Sharpe,  observing  this,  said,  "Capt.  Hamil- 
ton, don't  you  say  grace  on  your  steamer?  "  "Miss  Sharpe,  you  may," 
was  the  Captain's  quick  reply.     And  she  did.] 

"Frida}^  Nov.  18th;  20th  day.  We  started  from  Monrovia, 
capital  of  Liberia,  about  9  P.  M.  .  .  .  Feel  much  better  to-day. 
Read  Benga  Testament,  Mpongwe  Grammar,  and  French  Exercises. 
Reached  Grand  Bassa  this  morning  about  8  o'clock.  It  seemed  a 
long  distance  to  the  beach,  and  the  boats  were  not  many  that  came 
to  us.  .  .  .  We  had  some  trouble  with  Liberia  ladies  to-day. 
Their  baggage  was  loaded  on  board ;  but,  when  the  Captain  could  not 
accommodate  them  all  in  the  ladies  saloon,  they  were  offended,  and 
went  away.  .  .  .  This  evening  we  were  driven  down  into  the 
saloon  by  a  moderate  tornado.  This  is  the  first  we  have  seen.  The 
lightning  was  very  vivid,  but  the  thunder  was  not  as  heavy  as  I  have 
heard.  .  .  .  The  phosphorescence  was  very  pretty  at  the  side  of 
the  vessel. 

"Enjoyed  the  new  biscuits  bought  at  Monrovia  by  Dr.  N.  [lu 
the  evening,  we  had  obtained  our  last  sight  of  the  North  star.  In  a 
new  hemisphere,  and  far  from  home!] 

"Sat'y.,  Nov.  19th;  21st  day.  I  left  my  berth  at  6  A.  M.  Bathed, 
disposed  of  the  chocolate  and  bread,  used  the  jieedle,  dressed,  and 
had  but  a  few  minutes  on  poop-deck  before  the  last  bell  for  break- 
fast. Was  tired,  and  not  hungry.  The  signal-gun  had  fired,  and  the 
whistle  had  blown  several  times,  to  summon  Kroo-men  from  the 
shore.  .  .  .  The  canoes  came  in  large  numbers,  but  the  quota 
of  Kroo-men  was  not  filled  when  we  moved  off.  We  arrived  at  Cape 
Palmas  proper  at  3  P.  M.  Saw  the  S.  S.  'Yoruba,'  which  had  been 
wrecked  on  the  rocks  eight  years  ago.  The  American  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Mission-house  and  hospital  station  presents  a  very  pretty  aspect ; 
tho'  it  is  said  to  be  unhealthy.     Directly  off  from  this  is  an  island 


OCTOBER,    ISSl,    TO    AFRICA.  53 

with  rock-bound  shores,  against  which  the  waves  dash  angrily.  This 
island  was  once  the  burying-place  of  the  Kroo  people.  But,  the 
Liberian  authorities  forbade  its  use,  as  the  corpses  were  exposed  upon 
the  bare  rocks;  and  health  of  the  living  was  not  in  this  way  advanced. 

"One  of  the  chapels  of  this  Mission  was  where  Dr.  Nassau  preached 
his  first  sermon  in  Africa  in  1861. 

"Here  we  took  in  our  last  instalment  of  Kroo-men.  They  seemed 
larger  and  stronger  than  the  others.  The  dress  was  as  various  as  the 
people  or  men  were  numerous;  but  painfully  simple.  Generally,  the 
suit  consisted  of  a  necklace  and  a  smile  (Mark  Twain).  A  piece  of 
cloth  around  the  loins;  and  quite  universally  a  hat  or  cap  of  some 
kind.  The  most  fortunate  wore  an  old  style  fur  hat;  and  I  saw 
several  swords  slung  around  the  shoulders.  These  hats  were  very 
carefully  handled;  some  closely  covered  with  newspaper  for  pro- 
tection. A  man  with  a  wooden  limb  reminded  us  of  the  Hospital; 
and,  more  forcibly,  of  the  presence  of  sharks.  The  long  slim  canoes 
were  most  dextrously  handled;  still,  one  was  over-turned,  and  the 
men  scrambled  in,  in  the  water.  ...  It  was  odd,  to  see  the 
umbrellas  thrown  into  the  bottom  of  the  canoe;  and  the  query  came 
up,  why  needed? 

"At  the  bow  of  most  of  the  canoes,  you  would  see  cords  bound 
around  the  extreme  point,  fetishes. 

"The  dancing  canoes,  the  black  shiny  forms,  the  swelling  muscles, 
the  gleaming  teeth,  the  rolling  eye-balls,  the  odd  head-dress,  the 
queerly-cut  woolly  hair,  the  climbing  up  the  ropes,  the  confusion  of 
the  legs  and  arms  and  heads  on  deck,  made  a  strange  picture,  and 
the  confusion  of  tongues  made  it  wearisome  in  the  extreme. 

"Dr.  Nassau  took  me  to  the  bridge  to  see  the  mass  of  bodies  in 
the  foi-ward  part  of  the  vessel;  and  then  the  Captain  gave  us  per- 
mission to  go  to  the  bow,  to  see  the  anchor  taken  up.  We  went,  and 
were  not  chalked.  [The  Captain's  permit  prevented  the  sailor's  usual 
fine  for  a  passenger's  trespassing  on  the  forecastle.  Just  at  6  P.  M. 
we  were  off  again  on  our  way  into  the  Gulf  of  Guinea.] 

"Sabbath,  Nov.  20th.  At  'Half  Jack,'  and  on  the  Ivory  Coast 
of  Guinea.  All  the  morning,  we  have  been  skirting  the  'golden'  shores 
of  this  Coast.  Back  from  the  sands  are  the  low  'bush;'  and,  farther 
back,  the  trees  of  the  mainland.  A  narrow  strip  of  low-land  often 
bounds  the  coast,  forming  lagoons,  or,  are  the  delta  (if  land  of  this 
form  may  be  so  termed)  of  rivers. 

"We  see  no  European  houses,  only  the  low  huts  of  the  natives 
enclosed  with  thatched  fences,  and  the  numerous  coco-nut  palms. 
Those  palms  are  the  sure  sign  of  a  native  village     .     .     .     palm-oil 


54  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

in  large  barrels ;  this  is  our  first  sight  of  that  article.  The  song  of 
the  Kroo-men,  five  on  each  side,  with  their  paddles,  and  in  time  with 
their  vigorous  strokes,  is  a  delightful  contrast  to  the  hideous  hubbub 
of  the  loadings  of  blacks  before.  The  helms-man  in  the  stern,  with 
an  oar,  guides  the  boat,  and  in  a  high  tone  gives  his  commands;  the 
others,  in  perfect  and  pleasing  harmony,  respond.  It  is  strikingly 
attractive.  Then,  their  perfectly  formed,  muscular  arms  and  backs, 
bending  together  to  their  work,  form  a  pleasing  sight,  as  well  as  their 
gleaming  paddles  rising  and  falling  to  the  rhythm  of .  their  song. 
They  are  not  singing  now.;  they  give  a  hissing  noise,  as  they  bend  to 
the  stroke. 

"When  they  become  partially  civilized,  and  put  on  the  dirty 
shirts,  the  beauty  is  much  spoiled.  One  company  particularly  was 
joyous  in  their  song;  and,  one  fellow  in  the  stern,  who  gloried  in  a 
hat,  waved  it  in  time  to  the  oars,  giving  his  own  body  peculiar  ser- 
pentine movements.  Others  saw  me  watching  them;  and  their 
commander,  standing  in  the  stern,  went  at  them  with  fist  and  arms 
(not  in  reality)  but  in  figures,  to  bring  them  to  time. 

"Rev.  M.  Jas.  Elliott  preached  well  this  morning,  from  Ps.  107:9, 
'He  satisfieth  the  longing  soul,'  well  given.  Captain  Hamilton  was 
present,  with  his  own  Prayer-book. 

"Still  the  boats  come,  and  our  favorite  one;  the  passengers  are 
trying  to  learn  its  song,  but  in  vain.  The  oarsmen  sit  on  the  gun- 
wale of  the  boat,  bracing  themselves  against  its  sides;  and,  when  it 
is  empty,  their  stroke  is  very  deep,  and  they  look,  with  their  earnest- 
ness and  speed,  as  if  they  were  eagerly  spearing  the  fish;  but,  when 
the  boat's  bow  is  directly  opposite  our  view,  they  seem  to  describe 
a  circle  with  their  paddles,  and  at  intervals  come  out  in  unison  and 
with  stentorian  voice  in  chorus  of  several  syllables.  The  religion 
of  these  Kroo-men  is  Fetishism.  They  sacrifice  goats,  chickens;  or, 
oftenest,  cooked  meat  is  placed  on  the  graves  of  the  dead,  to  pro- 
pitiate the  spirit  they  so  much  fear.  They  pray  very  seldom;  not 
oftener  than  once  a  month,  during  new  moon.  The  charms  they 
wear  around  the  neck,  marks  on  faces,  rags  on  canoes,  all  are  in 
acknowledgment  of  their  fear  of  and  desire  to  placate  the  spirit  or 
power  they  recognize  as  in  the  world.  With  all  their  ignorance,  they 
know  more  than  some  enlightened  ones.     They  know  there  is  a  God. 

"As  we  approached  the  place  properly  called  Lahu,  we  could  see, 
as  distinctly  marked  as  was  the  shore-line,  the  line  where  brownish 
green  waters  met  the  blue  of  our  deep  sea.  It  was  noticeable,  as  far 
as  eye  could  reach ;  and  we  found  it  to  be  the  waters  of  a  small  river, 
which  must  come  with  much  force  into  its  mother  ocean.  A  pas- 
senger said  that  waters  of  the  Kongo,  distinct  from  the  soa,  could  be 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  55 

seen  tinging  its  waters  for  over  300  miles  from  its  mouth.  One 
could  scarcely  imagine  the  force  of  the  river  which  prevents  its  waters 
from  mingling  with  those  of  the  ocean  for  such  a  length  of  time. 

"We  spent  the  evening  on  deck,  singing;  Messrs.  Robinson, 
Williamson,  Marshall,  Baxter,  Elliott,  Mrs.  Gault,  husband  and  self. 
A  dark  cloud  overspread  the  sky,  and  bright  lightning  opened  to  us 
the  outlines  of  a  near  vessel.  We  did  not  leave  until  2  o'clock  Mon- 
day morning.     The  rain  fell  steadily  all  the  evening. 

"Monday,  Nov.  21st.  We  stopped  this  morning  about  8  o'clock, 
at  Grand  Bassam.  .  .  .  There  natives  and  Kroo-men  seem 
very  timid,  and  will  not  go  to  the  proper  place  to  load.  The  officer 
angrily  raised  a  club  to  them;  they  then  jumped  into  the  water. 
One  young  fellow  was  quietly  sitting  in  another  boat,  when  I  was 
startled  by  seeing  him  fall  backward  into  the  water.  Soon  he  came 
up,  shook  himself,  like  a  dog,  and  smilingly  greeted  us. 

"It  has  been  very  very  warm.  Changed  dress  three  times.  Heavy 
rain  before  dinner.  Mr.  Caiman,  Dr.  Nassau  and  self  on  settee 
during  rain. 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  22d.  Arrived  at  Axim  at  7  A.  M.  The  paddles 
of  our  visitors  differ  at  almost  every  place;  canoes  also.  At  first, 
around  Cape  Palmas,  the  canoes  were  long,  narrow,  and  quite  grace- 
ful. The  oars  or  (more  properly)  paddles,  long,  narrow,  and  sharper. 
The  paddles  now  are  short  and  shield-shaped.  No  rain  to-day. 
Every  day,  we  hear  the  noise  and  confusion  of  the  counting  [keeping 
tally  of  the  number  of  bales,  &c.,  received  or  discharged]  of  the  Kroo- 
men.  Just  now,  we  are  about  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  river  Prah. 
We  have  been  studying  French.  Mr.  Elliott  showed  me  an  illus- 
trated map  of  the  Ashantee  War.  My  husband  has  gone  below.  I 
am  alone  on  the  deck.  We  arrived  at  Elmina  about  6  P.  M.  .  .  . 
Capt.  Hamilton,  with  his  accustomed  care  for  his  passengers,  let 
down  a  protection  of  canvas  around  the  deck,  as  a  prevention  against 
cold  to  those  who  tho't  of  staying  on  deck  all  night. 

"Wed'y,  Nov.  23d.  We  started  from  Elmina  early  this  morn- 
ing; and  before  breakfast  anchored  at  Cape  Coast  Castle.  .  .  . 
C.  C.  Castle  is  the  prettiest  place  we  have  seen  since  we  left  Madeira. 
Here  the  forts  and  castles  that  have  played  such  important  parts  in 
the  wars  between  the  European  powers  and  native  tribes.  It  was 
here  Gen.  Wolseley  landed  his  forces  in  the  Ashantee  war  of  1878. 
The  forts,  at  Elmina  and  C.  Coast  Castle,  have  alternately  been  in 
the  hands  of  Portuguese,  Dutch,  and  English,  and  are  over  200  years 


56  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

old,  [While  in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch,  one  of  those  forts  was 
called  Fort  Nassau.] 

"The  Wesleyan  Mission-house  is  a  cool,  commodious  appearing 
house,  with  trees  in  profusion  around  it.  The  light-house  covers 
one  hill;  and  an  old,  very  old,  fort  another,  to  the  left.  A  rocky 
island  fronts  the  town;  and  on  these  rocks  the  waves  break  with 
much  force.  Behind  them,  the  boats  landed  our  friends;  Mr.  Elliott 
left  us  for  his  work,  and  went  ashore.     .     .     .     We  did  not. 

"In  the  morning,  it  was  extremely  hot,  but  Dr.  Hamill  and  self 
look  over  the  trunks.  ...  .  Dr.  Nassau  put  new  strings  on  the 
guitar,  and  sang  for  me, 

"There  were  several  women  put  on  board  to-day.  One,  seem- 
ingly 'la  belle,'  dressed  in  green  loose  gown,  white  stockings,  slip- 
shod shoes,  a  long  strip  of  cloth  thrown  around  the  shoulders,  a 
bandanna  on  head,  revealing  in  shape  (I  thought)  the  peculiar  horn- 
like cut  of  the  hair,  peculiar  to  the  Fantee  I  judge.  This  is  the  coast 
of  the  Fantee,  which  tribe  the  English  so  constantly  aid  in  their 
troubles  with  the  Ashantee.  The  Fantee  are  the  brokers  of  the 
country.  As  most  of  products  come  from  the  interior  Ashantee, 
the  latter  indignantly  resent  the  impositions  which  'the  brokers' 
would  put  upon  the  producers.  The  Ashantee  are  the  stronger, 
and  would  have  long  ago  wiped  out  the  Fantee,  were  it  not  for  the 
succor  of  the  English.  Mr.  Elliott,  last  Spring,  was  on  the  steamer 
that  carried  the  golden  hatchet  which  was  given  by  the  Ashantee 
King,  in  token  of  promise  to  keep  the  peace  and  abolish  cruelties; 
the  offering  of  human  sacrifices  was  particularly  referred  to  by  English 
party.  According  to  the  report,  to-day  received,  at  that  very  time, 
the  King  was  putting  to  death  200  of  his  maidens.  The  window 
of  a  house,  which  commemorated  the  burial-place  of  the  King's, 
father,  had  fallen.  It  could  not  be  repaired  without  human  sacri- 
fices; and  the  mortar  must  be  mixed  with  human  blood.  Tho'  these 
sacrifices  do  not  reach  the  thousands  of  former  times,  they  are  much 
too  atrocious  for  these  days.  These  Ashantee  are  said  to  be  far 
beyond  other  natives  in  the  arts,  and  in  courage.  The  kings  and 
chiefs  dress  in  most  handsomely  woven  and  materialed  costumes; 
and  their  houses  are  furnished  with,  or,  have  in  them,  the  most 
elegant  furniture,  presents  from  Europeans;  and  purchases,  also. 

"I  did  not  speak  of  the  'bustle'  with  which  these  women  adorn 
themselves.  .  .  .  Mr.  Baxter  said  there  arc  but  four  white  men 
in  C.  C.  Castle. 

"Thursday,  Nov.  24th.  This  is  Thanksgiving  day  at  home; 
tho  first  of  my  being  absent,  since  we  came  to  New  Jersey.     Last 


OCTOBER,    18S1,    TO    AFRICA.  57 

year,  Uncle  Joel  was  with  us,  and  I  went  home,  unexpectedly;  and 
it  was  the  first  time  of  seeing  home  friends  after  I  had  decided  to  go  as 
a  missionary. 

"My  husband  handed  to  me  a  letter  of  sympath}^  and  love,  in  the 
absence  of  home-friends  and  pleasures. 

"We  saw  in  the  waters,  as  we  left  C.  C.  Castle,  very  many  fishing 
caaoes.  Capt.  Hamilton,  last  evening,  had  the  company  of  two 
Captains.  One  was  Capt.  Monroe,  of  S.  S.  'Gaboon.'  He  was  very 
jolly  over  his  large  cargo  ...  he  had  6000  bags  of  coffee  on 
board,  estimated  as  worth  2  pounds  per  bag. 

"Opposite  Accra.  The  morning  has  been  comfortable,  owing  to 
the  cool  wind.  The  hazy  atmosphere  hangs  over  us,  and  the  shore 
has  the  appearance  of  being  in  quite  dense  smoke.  Accra  extends 
over  a  longer  stretch  of  land  than  the  other  towns.  We  do  not  now 
see  'the  bush'  and  forests  that  covered  our  former  shores.  The 
English  flag  floats  above  the  fort.  Near  us  is  lying  at  anchor  H.  M. 
S.  S.  'Mallard.'  My  head  aches;  and  I  am  worthless.  About  2  P.  M., 
Mr.  Robinson,  husband  and  self,  stepped  into  one  of  these  freight 
boats,  and  were  rowed  to  shore.  I  sat  in  a  wicker  chair,  with  feet  on 
a  box,  and  in  constant  dread  of  being  wet.  The  boat  was  leaking; 
there  were  many  boxes  in  it;  little  room  for  passengers.  Just  be- 
fore we  landed,  husband  tried  to  wrajD  a  shawl  around  me.  The 
Kroomen  watched  their  opportunity,  and  were  lifted  on  shore  by  the 
waves;  then  out  of  the  boat,  and  calling  to  take  me  in  arms  to  land. 
I  yielded  myself  to  two  fellows;  one,  in  the  excitement,  so  wrapped 
his  head  in  my  shawl  that  he  was  not  uncovered  until  he  put  me 
down.  I  also  secured  severe  glances  from  one  on  whose  bare  toes  I 
stepped.  Xone  of  our  crew  had  anything  on  save  a  narrow  strip 
around  the  loins.  Our  chair  and  shawl  were  carried  by  a  man  who 
had  around  and  over  his  shoulder  a  sort  of  Mohammedan  robe.  This 
fellow  directed  our  steps  to  the  Basle  Mission  Trading-House.  Mr. 
Rottmann,  the  director,  met  us  at  the  door  of  his  large  store-building, 
and  took  us  to  the  reception-room,  where  he  introduced  us  to  his 
wife,  a  native  lady.  She  evidently  speaks  German  better  than 
Enghsh,  tho'  I  could  understand  pretty  well  her  words.  Our  road  to 
this  house  was  on  the  avenue  of  Accra,  which  had  been  made  by  the 
English  Gov't.  It  was  wide,  hard,  of  a  clayey  soil.  The  fort  seemed 
well-garrisoned  by  negro  soldiers ;  and  there  were  several  other  build- 
ings of  European  make.  And  the  only  sign  I  saw  was  'Retail  and 
Wholesale  Dealer  in  Wines  and  Spirits : '  many  of  these. 

"The  native  huts  were  principally  of  one  story,  and  built  of  mud. 
Many  were  falling  to  pieces,  and  the  roughly  thatched  roofs,  the  lean- 
ing walls,  gave  a  very  dilapidated  and  forlorn   appearance    to   the 


58  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

town.  Then,  add  to  this,  the  dark,  dirty  vista  the  openings  of  each 
house  presented,  the  narrow  irregular  streets,  the  accumulated  filth  of 
many  people  crowded  in  little  space,  the  skeletons  of  dogs  and  pigs, 
the  naked  boys  and  girls,  the  almost  nude  men  and  women,  and  I 
must  confess  to  a  shrinking  from  contact  with  so  much  that  was 
offensive  to  ear,  eye,  nose,  and  taste,  and  touch.  God  prepare  me 
for  what  is  before ! 

"It  was  not  strange  that,  after  all  this  walk  in  the  hot  sun,  and 
excitement  of  getting  on  sea  again,  I  was  suffering  from  a  raging 
headache,  which  only  sleep  relieved.  .  .  .  "We  had  no  time  to 
visit  the  Industrial  School  at  Christiansburg.  .  .  .  We  were 
introduced  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmidt  and  baby  Emma.  Mrs.  S.,  I 
was  much  pleased  with.  Her  face  bespoke  sadness  and  deep  affec- 
tion, also  ill-health;  and  the  poor  baby  was  suffering  from  sores  on 
head  and  face. 

"I  did  not  speak  of  the  determined  and  confusing  clamors  of  our 
Kroo-men  who  took  us  over,  to  receive  more  than  what  Dr.  Nassau 
was  told  to  give  for  our  passage  over,  I  was  almost  frightened,  and 
ran  away  from  their  midst,  to  rid  myself  of  their  noise  and  odors. 
Mr.  Rottmann,  Mr.  Schmidt,  and  another,  whose  name  I  did  not 
hear,  walked  back  with  us  to  the  beach.  We  were  carried  and  lifted 
into  the  boat ;  then,  waited  for  the  right  wave,  and  were  successfully 
pushed  into  the  ocean  without  being  wet.  I  sat  on  my  husband's 
lap;  and,  eating  no  sujDper,  but  being  tenderly  cared  for  by  the  hus- 
band, retired  earh^ 

"What  are  our  home-friends  doing,  I  wonder!  We  left  Accra  at 
10  P.  i\I.,  and,  near  that  place,  passed  the  Greenwich  meridian-stone. 

"Friday,  Nov.  25th.  It  is  very,  very,  debilitating.  I  am  writing, 
at  1  P.  M.  We  left  Addah  at  11  A.  M.  (near  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Volta).  I  feel  the  effects  of  the  headache  of  yesterday;  and,  tho' 
weak  and  heated  yet,  seem  to  really  need  food.  I  had  bread  and  tea 
at  6.30  A.  M.,  breakfast  at  8.30,  and  now  am  ready  for  lunch  at  1.00 
P.  M.,  and  will  have  tea  and  toast  at  4  P.  M.,  and  dinner  at  6.00. 
But,  we  all  feel  very  restless;  want  energy;  want  appetite,  tho'  we 
do  eat. 

"Last  evening,  a  young  English  army  officer  got  on  board  with 
his  two  body-servants,  at  Accra;  and  is  leaving  at  Quittah,  where  we 
arrived  at  2  P.  M.  He  is  said  by  the  husband  to  be  troubled  with 
diarrhoea  of  words.  We  are  now  in  the  midst  of  buying  (at  Jellah 
Coffee)  ducks,  turkeys,  chickens,  and  eschalots  or  small  onions.  We 
see  very  few  houses  here;  and  the  coast  continues  low,  while  the 
misty  l^ackground  tells  us  of  a  wide  lagoon  along  the  coast. 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  59 

"The  natives  are  fighting  among  themselves,  and  this  officer  who 
left  us  here  is  one  of  the  officials  who  with  the  regiment  of  soldiers  are 
come  to  punish  the  natives,  and  stop  the  quarrels  if  possible. 

"The  husband  has  just  bro't  to  me  the  first  coco-nut.  The  milk 
I  do  not  much  like.  One  native  has  just  brought  an  alligator,  which 
he  is  carrying  with  a  sling. 

"Another,  entirely  naked  except  the  loin-cloth,  carries  an  um- 
brella. Another  fellow  climbed  up  the  ropes  with  a  little  monkey 
fast  to  his  side.  But,  these  blacks  wait  for  no  ladder,  to  get  on  to 
the  ship.  They  climb  up  anywhere  a  rope  may  be  hanging  down  the 
side.  I  have  not  seen  the  natives  more,  or  as  happy,  as  they  are 
here,  laughing,  singing.  Particularly,  these  canoes  of  small  boys. 
They  are  paddling  around  the  steamer,  and  'acting  up'  very  much 
like  EngHsh  scapegraces. 

"Safy?  Nov.  26th.  We  arrived  at  Lagos  at  7.40  P.  M.,  last  night. 
We  cannot  see  the  shore  [because  of  the  haze  of  the  approaching 
Dry  Season].  The  steamer  company  has  a  steam-launch  here;  and 
we  hoped  to  get  away  by  evening.  But,  the  steamer  'Volta,'  home- 
ward bound,  arrived  a  very  little  time  before  us ;  so,  she  has  the  first 
chance  [for  loading  and  discharging].  ...  I  wrote  this  morn- 
ing to  Mrs.  Cox  and  Mrs.  Gulick  [of  Barnegat]. 

"This  afternoon,  have  been  studying  adverbs  of  Mpongwe,  and 
reading  French  to  Madame  Pecqueur.  It  has  been  very  hot  and 
smoky.  Mr.  Baxter  left  us  this  morning.  Talked  of  Will,  on  deck 
[my  son  William]. 

"Sabbath,  Nov.  27th.  Read  the  day's  chapters  in  berth  before 
going  out.  .  .  .  Mr.  Marshall  preached  from  Eph.  5:  8.  'Walk 
in  the  light.'  There  were  none  present  but  those  belonging  to  our 
party.  [The  Captain  was  sick;  and  the  steamer  was  busy  discharg- 
ing and  loading.] 

"Dr.  O'Reilly  and  the  'Doctor  of  the  ship'  had  too  much  of 
bitters.  Dr.  O'R.  gave  me  four  oranges,  in  his  generosity  (?).  Moon- 
light.    Started  from  Lagos  at  2  P.  M. 

"  Monday,  Nov.  28th.  Had  my  first  bath  in  the  bath-room  to-day. 
We  saw  a  small  steamer  going  up  the  river  Nun,  one  of  the  mouths 
of  the  Niger.  We  have  just  'picked  up'  the  first  buoy  of  the  bar  of 
this  river  Bonny,  and  are  steaming  in  waters  of  the  Niger.  .  .  . 
The  rivers  New  Calabar  and  Bonny  flow  into  one  bight.  .  .  .  We 
are  guided  b)^  these  buoys  into  the  main  channel;  and,  following 
that,  we  come  to  our  resting-place  for  the  night.     The  cannon's  roar, 


60  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

as  we  are  at  supper  (or,  more  properly,  dinner)  apprises  the  town  of 
our  arrival.  By  the  moonlight,  we  see  that  we  have  passed  several 
hulks ;  and  the  lights  from  the  shore  twinkle  not  far  from  us.  The 
principal  one  (hulk)  is  that  of  the  'Adriatic'  (formerly,  one  of  the 
[American]  'Collins  Line');  and  an  enormous  thing  it  is.  It  once 
carried  [from  New  York]  to  Liverpool  the  largest  freight  ever  landed 
[including]  6000  tons  of  wheat.  It  was  found  to  be  too  immense  to 
be  handled  with  profit;  so,  it  was  sold  to  a  Mr.  Bates  of  Liverpool, 
who  converted  it  into  a  sailing  vessel.  It  finally  fell  into- the  hands 
of  this  British  and  African  Navigation  Company.  .  .  .  Dr. 
Hamill  sends  me  a  line,  as  we  sit  by  the  table  in  the  saloon,  that  this 
is  the  7th  hedomadal  return  of  our  day.  Our  Doctors  continue  still 
unfit  for  society.  The  husband  used  his  guitar  on  deck.  Dr.  O'Reilly 
encored  thickly.  [Even  on  the  best  of  African  coast  steamers,  every 
w^eek's  advances  to  the  Equator,  as  the  list  of  passengers  diminishes, 
the  manners  and  Christianity  of  most  of  the  remaining  ones  are 
lessened.] 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  29th.  The  nearness  of  the  hulk  [cutting  off 
any  breeze]  made  the  day  oppressive.  After  lunch,  the  Capt.  let 
us  have  his  boat,  and  provided  a  crew  for  I\Ir.  Marshall,  Mr.  Robinson, 
Dr.  Hamill  and  self,  to  go  ashore.  On  our  return,  we  were  all  tired. 
I  was  so  troubled  with  headache  that  the  husband  promised  to  write 
a  record  for  me  in  his  diary.     For  the  first,  saw  white  ants." 

[In  fulfillment  of  that  promise,  I  made  an  unusually  extended 
record,  as  follows:  "Went  ashore  in  the  Captain's  gig,  and  a  special 
crew  of  six,  and  two  extra  bearers.  Landed  at  Harrison's  pier,  a 
narrow  railway  for  transporting  goods  to  the  house  of  the  trader ;. 
a  covered  way  of  galvanized  iron;  walking  playfully  on  track. 
Passed  a  garden  of  fruit  trees,  bananas,  plantain,  papaya,  bread- 
fruit, Avogado  pears,  sour-sop.  The  large,  dark-green,  waxy,  deeply 
digitated  bread-fruit  leaf,  and  the  light-green  perfect  leaf  of  the 
banana  freshly  expanded;  white,  lily-like  flowers  of  the  Amomum; 
large,  yellow,  trumpet-shaped  flowers  (Allemania).  A  strange  musical 
instrument.  Mangrove  swamp.  Through  a  native  village.  Young 
unexpanded  palm-leaves,  drying,  with  which  to  weave  fancy  baskets 
and  mats.  Poles,  for  frames  of  houses,  mud  smeared  on,  and  thatched 
with  palm-leaves.  Corrugated  iron,  from  abandoned  hulks,  utilized 
on  native  roofs.  Narrow  dirty  alleys;  goats,  small  yellow  native  dogs, 
naked  babies  terrified  at  white  faces,  half-clad  girls,  tattered  women. 
Old  cannon  from  wrecked  vessels.  Eddo  plants,  with  their  broad 
leaves  (calladiurn,  in  American  gardens).     ]\Irs.  Nassau  a  great  curi- 


OCTOBER,    18.81,    TO    AFRICA.  61 

osity  with  the  women,  some  of  whom  wanted  to  shake  hands.  A 
blacksmith  shop,  with  an  old  cannon  for  anvil.  Trees  covered  with 
parasites  and  other  air-plants;  ferns;  oil-palms,  trees  with  their 
trunks  covered  with  ferns  and  orchids.  People  washing  in  the  man- 
grove swamp.  English  Episcopal  Mission  house;  oil-palm  trees 
and  young  bunch  of  nuts.  Arch-deacon  and  Mrs.  Crowther;  native 
women  sewing.  Little  Dora;  infant  Johnny.  Story  of  a  third  twin, 
saved  by  its  own  parents  (the  Calabar  native  custom  of  destroying 
twins).  In  Mr.  Crowther 's  garden;  a  flower,  in  odor  like  mignonette ; 
pineapi^les;  hibiscus,  frangipani,  '  fever '-bush ;  passion- vine ;  sapo- 
dilla,  and  grenadilla;  cape-jessamine.  Church  inquirers  examination- 
room.  Press-room.  The  hymn,  'Knocking,  knocking,  who  is 
there?'  Handsome  dun-colored  cattle.  White  ants.  St.  Stephens' 
church,  wooden,  low-roof,  crowded,  special  seats  for  chiefs.  Red 
lilies,  pitanga  bushes,  and  mango  trees.  Back,  through  the  native 
village,  with  a  mission-school  boy  as  a  guide  to  the  ju-ju  house;  a  de- 
serted house,  with  a  pyramid  of  hundreds  of  human  skulls,  and  scores 
of  rudely-carved  idols.  People  stood  by  wondering;  they  had  been 
told  by  our  guide  that  we  were  missionaries.  Peeped  into  the  narrow 
doors  of  the  small  mud-huts.  Mr.  Robinson  bargaining  for  oranges 
and  bananas.  Clam  and  other  shells  in  the  path.  Small  native 
market  of  yams,  corn,  meat,  and  plantains.  Cool  air,  sun  no  longer 
sultry,  and  evening  dampness  gathering.  Small  land-crabs  fleeing 
to  their  holes  on  the  beach.  Mr.  Harrison's  three  dogs;  one  'Bess,' 
a  black  spaniel,  most  demonstrative  to  Mrs.  Xassau,  mistaking  her 
for  its  English  mistress.  Down  the  railway  track  again.  Our  crew 
promptly  awaiting  us.  Off  to  the  steamer  again  by  6  P.  M.  Hearty 
thanks  to  Capt.  Hamilton,  and  just  in  time  for  dinner,  with  sharpened 
appetites.  A  restful  chat  on  deck,  with  loving  memories  of  Lake- 
wood;  and  conversations  on  native  customs;  and  some  irritating 
reminders  of  our  stroll  in  an  African  village  street."] 

"Wed'y,  Nov.  30th.     Mrs.  Gault,  Dr.  Hamill  and  self  went  aboard 
the  hulk   'Adriatic'     .     .     .     About  2  P.  M.,   we  started  out  the 


[One  of  the  objects  of  the  tour  of  inspection  of  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Williamson  and  Marshall  was  to  settle  some  difficulties  raised  by  one 
of  their  missionaries,  a  Rev.  Mr.  Ross.  Calabar  was  the  end  of  the 
journey  of  these  two  brethren,  the  last  of  the  company  of  nine  who 
had  started  at  Liverpool  with  us;  the  others  had  dropped  off  at  their 
points  of  labor  on  the  way.  Our  Gaboon  company  of  five  decided 
that,  whatever  might  be  our  sympathy  in  the  controversy  Mr.  Ross 


62  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

had  raised,  our  duty  was  to  take  no  part  in  it  by  word  or  deed.  In 
the  old  Calabar  river,  a  station  of  the  Scotch  U.  P.  Mission  is  at  the 
Duketo^ai  anchorage,  where  are  crowded  also  the  trading  houses. 
The  mission  has  other  stations  farther  up  the  river;  one  at  Creektown, 
where  lived  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Edgerly.  Seventeen  years  previously  I  had 
entertained  them  when  he  brought  her  on  a  bridal  visit  to  Corisco. 
Hearing  now  of  our  coming,  he  had,  without  our  knowledge,  arranged, 
in  connection  with  a  reception  of  their  U.  P.  Deputation,  a  welcome 
for  Mrs.  Nassau.] 

"Thursday,  Dec.  1st.  Arrived  in  Old  Calabar  river,  just  above 
Duketown.  .  .  .  Mr.  Ross  and  Mr.  Peebles  came  on  board. 
Oh!  how  hot  it  was!  Mr.  Ross  was  promised  our  company,  upon 
invitation,  after  lunch. 

"Immediately  after  lunch,  the  King  Eyo  VII,  with  his  war-canoe 
60  ft.  long  and  crew  of  35  men ;  one  in  front  carrying  and  brandishing 
the  long  brush,  by  which  (we  supposed)  the  spirits  were  driven  away; 
another,  with  a  drum  beaten  by  particular  strokes,  indicative  of  the 
King's  presence;  another  standing  and  shaking  a  rattle  as  large  as 
a  good-sized  wash-bowl,  covered  with  fringe  made  of  prepared  palm- 
leaves.  These  with  a  flag  and  cannon  in  front  (bow)  and  one  flag 
in  stern  composed  the  first  royal  boat  crew. 

"In  a  six-oared  boat,  were  Rev.  Mr.  Edgerly  and  King  Eyo  himself. 
Over  him  was  held  a  very  large  and  highly  colored  umbrella.  The 
boat  was  protected  by  a  canvas  shield  as  well.  Mr.  Edgerly  came 
up  the  steps  first.  Then,  gazing  back,  beckoned  the  King  to  come 
also.  He  walked  slowly  up.  Was  dressed  in  entirely  European 
costume;  large,  with  quiet  and  somewhat  embarrassed  manners. 
Mr.  E.  saw  Dr.  Nassau,  and  greeted  him  most  kindly.  Then,  gave' 
a  pressing  invitation  that  we  should  return  with  him.  When  Mr. 
Ross  came,  we  did  beg  off.  He  allowed  us  to  go ;  and  we  promised 
to  call  in  the  morning.  Mr.  Gault  and  Mr.  Robinson  and  the  ship's 
doctor  went  with  Mr.  Ross  to  his  house  in  Duketown.  We  went 
in  the  King's  boat  with  Mr.  Edgerly,  to  Creektown.  We  had  a  rather 
poorly  trained  [with  oars]  crew,  though  a  'royal'  one,  and  soon  fell 
much  more  behind  our  King's  [with  paddles].  We  rowed  past  the 
mangrove  forests;  and  as  the  tide  was  coming  in,  we  had  its  aid  in 
our  moving,  but  could  not  see  the  bare  [when  tide  is  out]  roots  of  the 
mangrove  trees,  though  the  interlacing  branches  and  down-hanging 
shoots  were  plainly  visible.  Just  before  we  neared  the  wharf,  Mr. 
E.  said,  'The  King  is  waiting  for  us.'  Our  crew  tried  their  rowing 
more  diligently,  and  soon  we  reached  the  King's  company,  and  were 
told,  by  signal,  to  proceed  before  them.     Messrs.  Williamson  and 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  63 

Marshall  were  with  him  in  his  larger  and  more  highly  royal  canoe. 
Mr.  E.  told  us  the  delay  was  in  honor  of  the  presence  of  a  lady!  We 
were  all  pleased  and  surprised.  Soon,  we  came  to  the  boat-house, 
where  two  men  carried  me  to  land. 

"Then,  we  began  our  walk  to  the  Mission-house  over  a  road 
clayey,  but  much  washed  by  rains.  I  was,  at  the  landing,  intro- 
duced to  the  King.  His  attendant  carried  his  large  royal  umbrella 
for  him. 

"Houses  much  better  than  in  Bonn}'.  Women  braiding  thatch- 
ing-mats. Rev.  Mr.  Goldie,  white-haired  and  cordial,  met  us.  Mr. 
E.'s  pleasant  road  to  house;  its  plainness.  Mrs.  E.  did  not  at  first 
recognize  Dr.  N.  Miss  E.  [his  sister]  bright,  energetic,  independent, 
a  little  sharp.  Mrs.  E.  gentle,  loving,  faithful.  Has  just  recovered 
from  severe  sickness.  Mr.  E.  was  away  at  beginning  of  illness. 
King  Eyo,  though  in  the  Rainy  Season,  went  for  him.  Mr.  Gillies, 
a  former  trader  at  Gaboon,  and  a  friend,  bro't,  on  a  stretcher,  the 
physician,  who  was  sick  himself,  and  laid  him  at  her  feet  to  attend 
to  her.  He  remained  in  the  house  several  days.  The  King  did  not 
have  to  go  as  far  as  he  feared,  before  he  found  Mr.  E.  King  Eyo  is 
an  Elder  in  the  U.  P.  Church.  Mrs.  E.  told  of  her  two  boys  in  Scot- 
land, of  a  little  girl  in  heaven,  and  of  one  or  two  others  with  sister. 
We  y/f ere  shown  fine  oranges  and  delicious  rock-candy.  Mr,  Goldie 
took  Mr.  Marshall  with  him,  we  remaining  at  Mr.  E's.  Bamboo 
roof,  with  breaks  for  simlight  and  rain!  No  ceiling;  very  airy;  very 
open  to  air  and  noise.  Miss  E.,  'only  a  sister,'  as  she  expressed  it, 
was  complaining  of  headache,  and  made  plain  the  fact  that  she  is  a 
character  of  her  own  peculiar  stamp.  Mr.  E.  took  us,  after  tea,  to 
Mr.  Goldie,  his  associate  and  elder  brother  in  the  Mission.  As  we 
went  out  in  the  evening  air,  the  clear  ringing  strokes  of  the  town- 
clock  sounded  pleasantly  on  our  ears. 

"Mr.  Goldie  is  quite  noted  for  his  botanical  knowledge  and  re- 
searches. His  collection  of  trees  was  varied  and  extensive.  We 
went  into  the  garden  to  see  a  large  tree  three  feet  in  diameter  that 
had  branches  resembling  cacti,  the  emphorbia.  Here  Mrs.  Goldie 
met  us.  We  were  taken  to  her  receiotion-room.  This  house,  as  was 
Mrs.  E's,  is  most  comfortably  furnished  in  all  respects,  lace  curtains, 
handsome  side-boards,  tables,  chairs,  pictures,  &c.  [These  are  prop- 
erty, not  of  the  Missionary,  but  of  the  Church.]  By  invitation,  we 
were  taken  to  Miss  Johnston's  room,  sister  of  Mrs.  Goldie.  Miss  J. 
is  teacher,  but  now  stricken  with  slight  attack  of  fever.  She  spoke 
of  Miss  Walker's  intended  marriage  to  Mr.  Boy  of  Jamaica.  [This 
"news"  was  a  mistake.  Miss  W.  was  just  then  on  furlough  in  the 
United  States;  she  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  young  man  in 


64  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

Gaboon,  and  he  had  removed  to  Jamaica.  Parties  there  wrote  let- 
ters of  inquiry  in  regard  to  him  to  Mr.  Goldie,  who  had  formerly 
hved  on  that  island.]  The  bell  for  prayer-meeting  warned  us  that  we 
must  return.  Spent  a  very  pleasant  eve  around  the  table  of  Mr.  E, 
A  new  puzzle-game  from  England  shown.  ^Ir.  Williamson  asked  if 
he  should  put  it  in  his  Report. 

"The  ladies  were  preparing  clothes  for  tfieir  [school]  boys.  Mrs. 
Edgerly  has  thirteen  boys  and  girls  in  her  family.  These  she  teaches, 
clothes,  and  cares  for.  Mr.  E.  tells  of  his  explorations,  accompanied 
by  his  wife.  Retired  early.  Had  a  good  bath  before  retiring.  Did 
not  sleep  until  after  eleven. 

"Friday,  Dec.  2d.  Awoke  as  the  clock  struck  4  A.  M.,  but,  went 
to  sleep  very  soon.  During  the  night  heard  the  sounds  of  voices 
and  native  drums  in  village;  but,  on  the  whole,  quiet.  Did  not  get 
dressed  in  time  for  prayers  at  7  A.  M. ;  Miss  Edgerly  met  me,  and 
cared  for  me,  while  waiting  for  the  others  to  return.  Could  hear  the 
sound  of  the  different  voices  reading  their  Efik  Bibles.  Mr.  Marshall 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goldie  came  just  as  the  breakfast  bell  rang.  En- 
joyed their  breakfast  very  much,  only  wanted  oranges.  (Mr.  E.  sent 
to  us,  on  steamer,  a  fine  basket  of  them.) 

"Mr.  W.,  Mr.  M.,  and  Mr.  E.,  went  with  us  to  the  boat;  by  kind- 
ness of  the  King,  same  boat  as  yesterday.  This  reminds  me  of  the 
sound  of  prayer  and  singing  that  went  up,  while  the  others  were  at 
Prayers,  from  the  native  homes  in  the  village  beneath  us.  The 
church  is  very  nicely  finished  and  furnished.  A  mite-box,  three  feet 
long,  with  opening  nearly  a  foot  long.  This  was  for  the  brass-rods, 
which,  I  find,  is  the  money  of  the  natives.  A  brass  rod  one  yard  in 
length,  doubled  in  middle,  worth  about  eight  cents.  Also,  fine  brass- 
wire,  several  lengths  twisted  together  in  same  shape. 

"From  there  to  King  Eyo's  house.  We  entered  a  door-way  that 
led  into  a  court  fifty  feet  by  forty  feet,  on  three  sides  of  which  were 
built  his  houses.  The  inside  walls  were  elaborately  painted  in  oils 
by  the  royal  ladies.  The  open  doors  of  the  rooms  showed  European 
comforts.  We  were  taken  to  veranda  on  second  floor.  Sat  down 
by  table.  The  King  met  us  in  morning-robe,  without  shoes.  We 
looked  around  for  some  time,  noticing  particularly  the  native  carvings 
on  door  and  posts.  Then,  were  invited  into  the  reception-room. 
Lounge,  hair-cloth  furniture,  chandelier,  mirror,  vases,  images,  table- 
covers,  rugs,  matting,  crowns,  scepters.  Bashful  crowning  of  the 
King.  The  King's  autograph.  Our  departure.  Printing-room. 
Walk  to  boat.  'Driver'  ants;  fight  of  women.  My  fan  brought  to 
me  from  Mrs.  E's.     Good-bye.     But,  before  this,  the  native  harj) 


OCTOBER,    ISSl,    TO    AFRICA.  65 

played  with  thumbs,  more  musical  than  the  one  at  Bonny.  Car- 
ried to  boat  by  two  men,  one  small,  one  large.  Dr.  Nassau  carried 
on  shoulder  astride.  Waving  farewells  to  Messrs.  E.,  M.,  and  W. 
Slow  and  irregular  rowing.  Hot  and  close.  The  fog,  which  had 
been  very  dense,  lifting.  Arrival  at  steamer's  side;  Mrs.  Gault  gets 
in.  Leave  letters  with  the  [homeward  bound  steamer]  'Mayumba.' 
Go  to  Mr.  Ross'  landing.  Hot,  and  steep  walk  up  to  the  mission- 
house.  Met  by  Mr.  R.,  who,  right  away,  shows  us  around;  his  dis- 
pensary, garden,  flowers,  trees.  Introduced  to  his  wife  as  she  stood 
above  us  on  porch. 

"Miss  Sutherland's  fine  new  house,  so  soon  vacated  for  the  better 
one.  Another  pleasant  home;  Mrs.  Ross'  kind  greeting.  Copy  the 
plan  of  Miss  Sutherland's  house  [for  possible  use  for  ourselves].  Dr. 
N.  returns,  and  takes  the  pencil.  [I  had  excused  myself,  to  make  a 
call  on  another  mission  family,  that  of  the  aged  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson.] 
Our  hurried  dinner,  hurried  farewells  [the  steamer's  gun  had  called 
us].  Left  Old  Calabar  at  2  P.  M.  [That  river  has  a  very  rich  palm- 
oil  trade,  but  its  climate  is  exceedingly  hot  and  its  mangrove  swamps 
very  malarious.] 

"Sat'y,  Dec.  3d.  Arrived  in  Fernando  Po  harbor  about  7  A.M. 
This  is  in  beauty,  next  to  Madeira.  The  Peak  [10,000  feet  high] 
was  visible  for  only  a  short  time.  Here  Spain  sent  her  merchants, 
&c.,  of  Cuba,  who  were  suspected  of  sympathizing  with  the  Cuban 
republicans.     Left  at  11  A.  M. 

"Sabbath,  Dec.  4th.  Sight  of  Corisco  island  in  the  distance. 
As  I  came  on  deck,  we  were  steaming  into  Corisco  Bay.  We  had  a 
Bible-reading  this  morning;  the  chief  steward  present.  Mr.  Robin- 
son led.  Cape  St.  John  at  our  left  hand.  Elobi  islands,  where  we 
stopped  (it  was  at  the  smaller  one),  between  Corisco  island  and  the 
mainland.  The  coast  is  much  higher  than  it  has  been.  We  left 
Elobi  at  1.45.  P.  M.  A  letter  was  sent  to  Mrs.  DeHeer  [at  Bonita] 
by  an  English  trader,  Mr.  Neill.  As  we  steamed  away,  we  retraced  our 
morning  track.  A  very  pretty  picture  was  before  us.  St.  John's 
Cape,  its  two  points,  one  dimmer  than  the  other;  the  mainland  ob- 
scured by  rain-clouds;  capes  and  bays,  making  the  coast  of  the  main 
Bay  beautiful  in  its  variety.  The  long  dark  shadows  on  the  waters, 
reflections  from  the  heavy  clouds  above.  Elobi  islands  small,  and 
lesser  ones  at  the  extreme  right.  Soon,  the  mainland  disappears 
(just  as  a  small  fishing  or  sailing  boat  disappears  in  the  shades  of  the 
storm)  and  Corisco  is  before  us.  Rev.  Mr.  Ibia's  place  of  work,  Alongo, 
is  visible,  and,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  is  a  tall,  naked   tree, 


66  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

the  land-mark  to  those  approaching  the  shore,  and  the  site  of  Dr. 
Nassau's  former  home.  Conflicting  emotions.  The  houses  and  build- 
ings are  all  removed  from  Evangasimba.  .  .  .  At  6  P.  M.  we 
anchored,  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the  Gaboon  river. 

"Monday,  Dec.  5th.  Before  breakfast,  we  were  in  Gaboon  river, 
and  approaching  the  final  destination.  Dr.  Nassau  pointed  out  to 
me  the  French  'Plateau';  and  we  could  distinguish  the  white  fence 
and  house  of  the  two  Barakas.  'Baraka'  means  'slave-pen'  in  the 
native  tongue;  and  those  mission-houses  are  built  over  the  site  of 
former  slave-pens.  The  view  of  Libreville  is  very  attractive.  Quite 
elevated  and  beautifully  green,  and  the  French  Government  build- 
ings are  quite  elaborate.  Soon  we  saw  a  man  in  white  dress  open 
the  boat-house;  and  then  the  boat  was  pushed  off.  In  due  season, 
the  'Minnesota'  was  alongside  the  steamer;  and  H.  M.  Bachelor, 
M.  D.,  and  Rev.  G.  C.  Campbell,  were  introduced  to  us. 

"As  soon  as  our  breakfast  was  over,  we  packed  loose  articles,  and 
were  off.  Before  bidding  good-bye,  I  left  a  little  memento  in  stew- 
ard Harry's  hand  for  the  Captain,  and  gave  a  brooch  to  Madame 
Pecqueur.  [With  the  "little  memento,"  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  a  letter 
of  thanks  for  the  captain's  continued  courtesy  to  us.  A  gratified 
and  gratifying  reply  lies  before  "me,  retained  by  Mrs.  Nassau,  among 
the  treasures  of  Africa,  among  all  others'  marks  of  kindness.] 

"We  saw  Rev.  Messrs.  Walker  and  Marling  on  the  beach.  Greeted 
by  natives  kindly,  tho'  Dr.  Nassau  was  not  always  recognized,  because 
of  cut  beard.  Stopped  for  a  few  minutes  at  the  Lower  Baraka; 
Mrs.  Campbell,  and  Mrs.  Bachelor  and  the  baby  Otis.  Then,  to  the 
Upper  Baraka,  which  was  to  be  home;  saw  Mrs.  Bushnell,  and  Mrs. 
Ogden.  Opened  some  trunks  and  showed  some  pretty  things  t6 
ladies.  Mr.  Marling  proposed  a  prayer-meeting  (of  welcome),  which 
was  acted  on.  Met  at  Mrs.  Bushnell's.  Dr.  Nassau  led.  Had  a 
pleasant  sail  in  Mr.  Campbell's  boat,  after  tea.  Episode  of  escape 
from  running  into  a  boat;  danger. 

"Tuesday,  Doc.  Gth.  Unpacked,  this  morning.  Many  native 
women  and  some  boys  called.  Attended  evening  prayers  at  6  o'clock 
in  the  school-house.  While  opening  a  box  containing  books,  a  cen- 
tipede dropped  out!  Prayer-meeting  at  Mr.  Campbell's,  in  evening. 
Mr.  Walker  led.     After  meeting,  Dr.  B.  and  Dr.  N.  had  flute  duets. 

"Wed'y,  Dec.  7th.  Mr.  Robinson  led  evening  prayer-meeting  in 
school  house.     After  which,  at  Mr.  Campbell's,  had  a  social  sing. 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  67 

.  .  .  Another  centipede,  killed  in  Mrs.  Gault's  bed.  Scratch, 
scratch,  scratch.  [Almost  all  new  arrivals  are  troubled  with  irritable 
skin.] 

"Thursday,  Dec.  8th.  This  afternoon  at  3.00  o'clock,  attended 
a  Women's  Missionary  Meeting  at  Mrs.  Campbell's.  A  native  woman 
led.  She  and  Janie  were  the  only  natives  present.  We  were  hur- 
ried to  reach  the  boat  which  was  to  take  us  [seven  missionaries;  Mr. 
Walker  and  I  walked]  to  make  our  official  call  on  the  French  Com- 
mandant. Wharf  at  landing,  well  laid-out  grounds;  stone  build- 
ings; stopped  at  gate  by  sentry;  were  asked  to  give  cards  and  had 
none ;  finally  admitted.  Pleasant  Commandant ;  his  wife,  and  little 
girl,  and  sick  manly  little  son.  Mr.  Marling  talked  (in  French)  for 
us;  trying  silence.  Dr.  N.  rode  back  in  boat  with  us.  Meeting  at 
Mrs.  Bushnell's;  Mr.  Gault  led.  Scratch,  scratch,  scratch.  [The 
"Janie"  mentioned  was  the  educated  native  Christian  lady,  Anye- 
ntyuwe,  who,  seven  years  later,  was  to  be  the  protector  and  gov- 
erness of  Mrs.  Nassau's  daughter.] 

"Friday,  Dec.  9th.  Mr.  Walker  speaks  to  Dr.  N.  of  Dr.  B.'s  dis- 
satisfaction with  Mr.  Reading.  Dr.  N,  spoke  to  Dr.  B.  of  this;  and, 
before  prayer-meeting,  they  had  a  long  talk.  Dr.  B.  told  his  griev- 
ances [against  Mr.  R.]  and  also  said  his  anger  against  Dr.  N.  had  not 
subsided.  He  was  away,  during  the  social  sing  after  prayer-meeting. 
I  imagine,  now  smoking.  Mrs.  Campbell  led,  and  Mrs.  Bachelor 
prayed.  Scratch,  scratch,  scratch.  [Thus  early  Mrs.  Nassau  met 
with  one  of  the  disillusions  as  to  the  holiness  of  foreign  missionary 
life.  It  distressed  her  exceedingly.  I  do  not  know,  to  this  day, 
what  was  the  ground  of  Dr.  B.'s  ill-will  toward  me.  In  that  "long 
talk,"  I  begged  him  to  tell  me,  in  order  that  I  might  apologize  or 
make  reparation  if  I  had  done  him  wTong.  He  would  not  tell  me. 
I  can  only  imagine  that,  perhaps,  because  (before  I  visited  the  United 
States  in  1880)  I  had  objected  to  his  excessively  constant  smoking, 
especially  when  traveling  with  me;  it  sickened  me.  Perhaps,  also, 
because  of  my  friendship  for  Mr.  R.  Notwithstanding  Dr.  B.'s 
animosity,  Mrs.  B.'s  relations  with  Mrs.  Nassau  and  myself  were 
always  most  cordial.] 

"Saturday,  Dec.  10th.  Were  at  Mr.  Campbell's,  for  weighing, 
I,  130  lbs;  height,  5  ft.  of  inches.  [Mine,  144  lbs;  height,  5  feet  9 
inches,]  Whole  weight  of  twelve  missionaries,  1500  lbs.  Got  very 
tirejj.  Had  peculiar  sensation  in  head.  In  store-room  some  time; 
hot.     Meeting  at  Mrs.  Bushnell's;  Mr,  Robinson  led.     Showed  Mrs. 


68  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

Bachelor  pictures.  Scratch.  [The  store-room,  in  which  was  placed 
the  luggage  of  newl}^-arrivecl  missionaries,  was  built  entirely  of  gal- 
vanized iron,  and  was  excessively  hot.] 

"Sabbath,  Dec.  11th.  First  Sabbath  in  Africa.  Meeting  in 
church,  at  9  A.  M.  Mr.  Walker  conducted  Mpongwe  Services;  and 
Mr.  Gault,  English.  Home  by  10.50  A.  M.  Sab.  Sch.  at  3  P.  M.  I 
had  a  class;  tho'  I  wanted  Dr.  N.  to  take  it.  Meeting  in  Sch.-house, 
at  7  P.  M.  Dr.  Nassau  s])oke  in  English,  after  Mr.  W.  in  Mpongwe. 
Not  a  glad  day.  Too  much  of  self;  too  little  of  j^rayer  and  God's 
Word. 

"Monday,  Dec.  12th.  Spent  the  morning  in  singing,  and  talking 
with  Mrs.  B.,  of  our  expected  entertainment.  I  made  a  programme, 
which  I  fear,  as  always  before,  will  prove  unsatisfactory.  God  help 
us  to  live  in  peace  and  unity!  Afternoon;  read  and  translated  six 
verses  of  12th  Chap,  of  Matth.  Hard  shower,  preceded  by  dark  clouds. 
Went  thro'  rain  to  Mr.  Campbell's  for  prayer-meeting.  .  .  .  Dr. 
B.  led.  He  appointed  Dr.  N.;  Dr.  N.  suggested  Mr.  Marling.  Rev, 
Mr.  Ibia  arrives.  Still  scratching.  [We  were  awaiting  the  assembling 
of  all  the  missionaries  for  the  Annual  Meeting  of  Mission  and  Presby- 
tery. The  mission  schooner  "Hudson"  was  daily  expected  from 
Benita.  I  do  not  remember  what  is  referred  to  by  "entertainment" 
and   "programme."] 

"Tuesday,  Dec.  13th,  A.  M.  Still  no  'Hudson.'  The  Mission 
Meeting  is  held  this  morning.  I  go  down  with  Mrs.  Gault  to  sing. 
Mrs.  Campbell  helping  her  husband;  and  Mrs.  B.  bathing  her  baby. 
.  .  .  This  morning  gone  with  writing  in  this,  reading,  and  the 
above  call.  Dr.  Nassau  reports  pleasant  and  successful  Mission- 
Meeting.  .  .  .  Rev.  Mr.  DeHeer  and  Mr.  Menkel  came  toward 
evening.    Disappointed  in  not  seeing  Mrs.  DeHeer. 

"Am  troubled  with  mosquitoes,  and  a  breaking  or  an  eruption 
on  skin.  I  hear  the  drumming  and  songs  of  the  native  revelry.  I 
went  to  boat-house  after  Dr.  N.  [I  had  been  painting  our  boat, 
"Swan."]  Late  for  supper.  Had  new  dish  for  supper;  first  saw 
palm-nuts,  from  which  are  made  palm-butter  and  oil.  Evening. 
Prayer-meeting  here.  Mr.  Marling  led;  subject,  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Mrs.  Sneed  killed  a  centipede  during  prayer-meeting.    Scratches. 

"Dec.  14th,  Wed'y.  Spent  two  hours  with  Mrs.  B.  and  Mrs.  C. 
,  .  .  Helped  Mrs.  Bachelor  put  the  machine  together.  Spent 
afternoon   in   trying   to   study   Mpongwe.      Evening.      Mr.    DeHeer 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  69 

preached  from  Zech.  4.  6.  'Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my 
SfDirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.'  After  the  sermon.  Presbytery  was 
opened  by  prayer;  and  Mr.  Campbell  elected  Moderator;  Dr.  Nassau 
Stated  Clerk.  The  tho'tlessness  of  Gaboon  Station,  for  the  rest  of 
the  Mission,  manifest.  But,  God  rules,  and  His  Spirit  will  guide  and 
control.    Felt  the  need  of  that  Spirit  in  learning  the  language. 

"Thursday,  Dec.  15th.  Mrs.  Gault  called  me  in  to  have  prayer 
with  her.  It  was  about  9  A.  ]\I.  .  .  .  Noon,  still  no  appoint- 
ments [by  the  Mission  Meeting].  Before  tea,  no,  just  after,  the  French 
Commandant,  wife,  and  officer,  called;  pleasant.  Attended  Pres- 
bytery in  evening.  Dr.  N.  moved  that  native  Licentiate  Kongolo 
[of  the  Ogowe  church]  be  Stated  Supply  of  Evune  church.  [This  was 
opposed,  at  some  length  by  Dr.  Bachelor,  who,  as  elder  of  First 
Ogowe  Church,  was  also  a  member  of  Presbytery.]  The  motion  was 
carried. 

"Friday,  Dec.  16th.  The  [homeward  bound]  steamer  'Angola' 
arrived  last  evening,  and  I  hastily  sent  off  six  letters,  as  hastily  written. 
The  first  note  to  Will  Nassau.  Dr.  Bachelor  presented  his  resigna- 
tion, and  a  letter  of  history,  which  he  gave  all  liberty  to  read.  Dr.  N. 
did  not  read;  but  was  told  it  concerned  himself  and  Mr.  Murphy. 
[My  friend  Rev.  S.  H.  Murphy,  a  former  missionary.  I  never  read  the 
document,  and  do  not,  to  this  day,  know  its  contents.  I  did  not  wish 
to  quarrel,  as  Dr.  B.  had  declined  my  offer  of  reconciliation.]  Pre- 
paratory Lecture.  Mr.  Robinson  led.  Subject:  'Come  for  all 
things  are  ready.'  Found  Roman  Cathohc  Bishop  and  priest  in  parlor; 
affable.  .  .  .  Mrs.  Bachelor  stayed  from  Presbytery  to  help 
me  mend.  Other  ladies  went  to  Presbytery.  [The  evening  session 
was  made  uncomfortable  through  an  attack  on  me  by  Rev.  William 
Walker  (a  Congregationalist,  who,  only  by  courtsey,  was  a  correspond- 
ing member)  because  of  my  effort  to  sustain  legal  parliamentary 
procedure  in  Presbytery.]  This  is  all  so  trying.  God  help  us  to  honor 
Him!  God  help  us  to  be  wise,  charitable,  just,  upright!  Was  much 
troubled  by  this  itching.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gault  are  to  go  to  IMbade 
[Benita]  near  Bolondo  [Station  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  DeHeer  and  ]\Irs. 
Reutlinger];   Mr.  Robinson  and  we  to  Kangwe." 

[Of  those  days,  Mrs.  Nassau  says,  in  the  draft  of  a  letter,  without 
date,  but  evidently  written  in  February,  1882,  to  a  W.  F.  M.  S.: 
"There  were  at  Mrs.  Campbell's,  Dr.  Bachelor  and  wife  and  baby 
Otis  (No.  1),  their  guests.  Dr.  B.  had  charge  of  Kangwe;  but  has 
left  it  in  the  hands  of  our  traveling  companion.  Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson. 


70  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

At  Upper  Baraka,  we  meet  first  of  all,  the  sad  but  earnest  face  of 
dear  Mrs.  Bushnell,  and  Mrs.  Ogden  of  Perrinesville,  N.  J.,  who  is 
assisting  Mrs.  Bushnell  in  the  heavy  burdens  she  is  carrying.  But, 
do  not  forget  that  our  party  consists  not  only  of  those  you  know, 
but  of  Mr.  Robinson,  before  mentioned,  and  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Wm, 
C.  Gault,  from  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Baraka  is  the  name  of  the  Mission 
grounds;  and  you  have  found  that  there  are  two  dwelling  houses 
upon  it.  .  .  .  These  two  houses  mark  the  spot  where  not  many 
years  past  [about  forty],  the  chains  clanked  upon  the  limbs  of  the 
suffering,  dispairing,  captive;  and  the  cruel  whips  lashed  the  quiv- 
ering flesh  of  the  many  stolen  natives,  huddled  together  like  dumb 
beasts  into  the  narrow  limits  of  their  pen.  Now,  uiDon  the  same 
grounds,  we  hear  the  church-bell  calling  to  the  worshijD  of  God;  and, 
on  week-day,  the  busy  hum  of  eager  school-children,  happy  in  their 
studies;  and,  every  day,  sounds  of  prayer  and  praise  ascend  to  God, 
instead  of  the  curse  of  the  slave-holder  and  the  moans  of  the  slave. 
They  are  jDleasant  grounds,  but,  their  proximity  to  the  French  Roman 
Catholic  Mission  is  very  often  trying,  particularly  as  the  French 
Government,  the  ruling  power,  favors  the  R.  Catholic,  tho'  they  are 
courteous  to  us. 

"We  had  occasion  to  notice  the  power  of  the  name  'United  States 
of  America,'  in  a  dispute  that  arose  between  the  two  Missions;  and  the 
f/earoZd/?agr/ios  influence  here;  and  we  all  wish  our  Government  would 
oftener  send  her  ships  to  our  coast,  that  both  native  and  French  may 
better  realize  the  existence  of  such  a  Power,  and  that  'the  U.  S.'  will 
protect  her  citizens.  We  find  the  presence  of  French  officials  a  check 
upon  the  cupidity  and  cruelty  of  the  natives,  tho'  it  is  also  true,  that 
as  'Americans,'  we  are  not  always  as  sure  of  protection." 

[The  "dispute"  referred  to  was:  One  night  a  torch-light  procession' 
of  Roman  Catholic  school-boys,  with  banners  and  mottoes,  celebrating 
one  of  their  Saints'  days,  came  on  the  Baraka  premises  with  insulting 
shouts.  One  of  our  missionaries  went  to  them  on  our  path,  ordered 
them  off,  and  broke  down  some  of  their  transparencies.  When,  the 
next  day,  the  Roman  Catholic  priest  made  complaint  for  destruction 
of  their  property,  the  French  magistrate  dismissed  the  case,  saying 
that  we  were  within  our  rights  on  our  own  premises.] 

"  Sat'y,  Dec,  17th.  Lighted  lamp,  last  night,  at  midnight ;  nervous. 
Was  not  able  to  sleep  because  of  mosquitoes  and  'hives.'  An  old 
man,  to-day,  with  white  hat,  linen  coat,  cane,  dressed  in  a  cloth, 
little  boy  with  umbrella,  no  shoes,  came  into  the  room,  held  out  his 
hand,  turned,  left  the  house.  Proved  to  be  King  'Glass,'  Dowe.  An 
old  woman,  bare-headed,  bare-footed,  a  cloth,  umbrella,  anklets  a 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO   AFRICA.  71 

finger  in  height,  wry  face,  came  in  sick.  Asked  for  two  kinds  of  medi- 
cine, of  Mrs.  Bushnell.  She  gave  her  worm  pills.  Had  pictures  of 
entire  Mission  taken.  All  present.  Went  with  Mrs.  Bachelor  and 
Mrs.  Gault  to  visit  Gertrude  Boughton  [a  native]  and  her  baby.  Mud 
floor,  small  rooms,  crowded  with  boxes,  trunks;  neighbor's  chairs 
bro't  for  us.  Sophia's  [the  daughter's]  grief  at  leaving  Mrs.  Bachelor. 
Met  the  father  Andrew  [a  native  elder].  Mr.  Walker  going  to  the 
sick;  we  follow;  foot-paths,  few  houses,  fires  on  clay-floors,  no  chim- 
neys; baby  with  sixth  finger  cut  off.  Ovanga,  the  School  Matron, 
very  sick,  but  better;  heart  disease;  little  room,  mosquito  net;  cen- 
tipede. Wind  blew,  like  Fall;  and  quite  cool  this  morning.  The 
rattling  of  the  coco-nut  leaves  sounds  like  rain.     To-morrow,  Com- 


" Sabbath,  Dec.  18th.  Mr.  Campbell  preached  from  I.  John  3:1-3. 
Afternoon,  Communion.  This  is  the  first  celebrated  [since  she  ar- 
rived] in  Africa.  Rev.  Messrs.  Ibia  and  Marling  distributed  the  bread 
and  wine,  thro'  two  native  Elders,  Andrew  Komanandi,  a  Mpongwe, 
also  Ekitike,  from  Batanga  of  the  Monaka  tribe,  one  who,  twenty 
years  ago  would  have  been  called  'a  bushman'  and  not  worthy  of 
association  by  the  first.  [Ekitike  is  still  living,  an  elder  at  Batanga.] 
Mr.  Ibia's  address  was  very  good  indeed.  This  evening  Mr.  Walker 
gave  an  Mpongwe  address;  Mr.  Gault  an  English. 

"Monday,  Dec.  19th.  Last  evening,  I  was  very  tired,  and  Mr. 
Walker's  words  and  actions  were  before  me  a  long  time  before  sleep 
came.  This  morning,  felt  not  good;  and,  by  10  A.  M.,  was  in  a  chill. 
Went  to  dinner;  but,  immediately  after,  went  to  bed.  Head  ached, 
fever  high,  breath  short,  heavy  perspiration.  Marked  off  the  minutes 
until  Dr.  N.  should  get  thro'  the  Presbytery.  At  last,  he  came.  I 
wanted  bed  and  clothes  changed;  at  first  he  objected,  but  consented 
at  last.  Slept  poorly.  [The  excitements  of  the  two  previous  weeks 
had  their  inevitable  effect.  To  escape  fever,  one  must  be  free  from 
worry.  It  was  not  either  of  the  dangerous  "African"  fevers;  it  was 
the  usual  intermittent  that  sooner  or  later  seizes  every  new  white 
comer  to  the  African  Equator.  The  perspiration  is  a  saving  feature, 
and  I  feared  to  remove  the  thick  coverings  which  had  become  un- 
comfortable.] 

"Tuesday,  20th.  Enjoyed  Mrs.  Bushnell's  soup,  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell's orange.  Feel  better;  still  feverish.  Did  not  get  up  until 
evening.     [The  usual  intermission  of  a  tertian  fever,  and  the  patient 


72  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

then  attempts  to  do  too  much;    usually  followed  by  an  unfavorable 
reaction  on  the  third  day.] 

"Wed'y>  21st.  Wrote  to  Mrs.  DeHeer,  having  persuaded  Mr. 
DeHeer  to  wait  for  the  'Hudson/  and  not  go  with  his  own  little  boat. 
Wrote  a  short  letter  home.  After  dinner,  sat  up.  Head  ached  very 
badly.  Mrs.  Campbell  and  Mrs.  Bachelor  called.  Prayer  Meeting. 
Dr.  X.  stayed  with,  and  playfully  tried  to  lift  me  bodily;   objected. 

"Thursday,  22d.  Head  ached  all  night.  Decided  not  to  arise 
to-day.  After  dinner.  Dr.  N.  received  word  that  the  'Mpongwe' 
would  sail  at  4  P.  M.,  and  we  were  welcome  to  a  passage.  After 
consultation,  decided  to  go.  Mrs.  Gault,  Mrs.  CamiDbell,  Mrs.  Ogden, 
packed  and  repacked  for  me.  I  dressed;  rode  in  carriage  (how  rough 
it  was!)  to  the  boat.  Safely  on  'Mpongwe.'  After  waiting  an  hour, 
Capt.  Simonson  arrived.  Little  cabin,  just  room  for  table,  lounge 
on  seats,  dirty  cloth,  poor  provisions  on  table,  sleep  on  seats,  put  up 
a  shawl  for  curtain,  night  dress  wet  [with  perspiration].  Mrs.  Bach- 
elor and  baby  with  us,  Iguwe  nurse.  Many  natives  on  board. 
Anchored  near  mouth  of  Gaboon  river." 

[The  meetings  had  adjourned  and  the  members  were  scattering 
to  their  stations.  Mrs.  Nassau  wished  to  make  her  own  Jiome.  There 
was  only  slight  risk  in  a  convalescent  from  intermittent  fever  travel- 
ing. The  "carriage"  was  a  small  springless  wagon  drawn  by  human 
hands.  Dr.  B.'s  goods  were  to  be  removed  from  Kangwe,  in  the 
Ogowe;  he  sent  his  wife  with  young  babe  to  make  the  journey  and 
do  the  work.  The  actual  result  was  that  Mrs.  Nassau  and  I  had  tp 
do  much  of  that  work  for  his  good  wife,  Mrs.  B.  being  lame,  with 
a  sore  foot.  Iguwi  was  a  young  Galwa  girl  whom  Mrs.  B.  had 
brought  from  Kangwe.] 

"Friday,  Dec.  2.3d.  Last  sight  of  the  ocean.  [The  steamer  enter- 
ing the  Nazareth  mouth  of  the  Ogowe  at  4  P.  IVL  Prophetic  words! 
She  never  saw  the  ocean  again.]    Anchored  at  Angala. 

Sat'y>  Dec.  24th.  Hastened  out  to  fresh  air.  Found  'King' 
Esongi  [of  Angala]  on  board  [who  presented  a  mat  with  a  very  warm 
native  welcome  to  me  as  a  former  friend].  Hot  day.  Captain 
troubled  with  mate.  Poor  supply  of  food,  as  to  quantity.  Mrs. 
Bachelor  feels  feverish.  All  restless.  Sea  turtle  bo't;  turtle  soup 
and  steak;    feast.     At  night,  anchor  in  [papyrus]  'bush'  at  Avanga 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  73 

[Lake  entrance].  Driven  from  dining-room  by  bugs  and  mosquitoes 
[attracted  by  the  lamp].  Mrs.  B.  wraps  up  baby.  I  take  tea,  go 
out  in  darkness.  Put  out  light.  Capt.  S.  objects,  comes  in,  lights 
lamp,  finds  bugs  numerous,  puts  out  light,  retires,  sent  a  long  plank ; 
bed  made  on  it  in  connection  with  seat,  after  table  is  moved;  put 
mosquito  net  over  it;  undress  and  go  into  the  African  sweat-box. 
Hottest  night  I  have  ever  known!  Sleep  poorly.  Baby  Otis 
well.     Strange  Christmas  Eve!     Nkami  tribe. 

"Sab.  25th.  Christmas.  So  glad  that  this  is  the  last  day  on 
board!  Mate  in  better  humor.  Arrived  by  3.30  P.  M.  at  Lambarene. 
Salutes  from  cannon  [of  the  German  trading  house  and  two  river 
steamers  "Batanga"  and  "Pioneer"]  and  flags.     No  unfreighting. 

"Start  in  'Swan'  for  Kangwe;  then  get  into  Mr.  Schiff's  [German 
agent]  boat.  Dr.  Nassau  and  'Swan'  towed,  until  after  we  turn 
around  the  island,  when  I  get  into  the  'Swan'  with  Dr.  Mr.  S's  Kroo 
crew  want  'dash'  (tip).  Met  R.  C.  priest  at  wharf.  Welcomed  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Reading  at  the  Mission  landing.  Stay  all  night 
at  their  Andgnde.  Evening  prayers;  and,  for  the  first  time,  hear 
an  interpreter  give  the  sermon  to  the  people.  Lizzie  hangs  up  her 
stocking,  and  one  for  Otis.  [A  very  large  island  divided  the  Ogowe, 
thus  beginning  its  delta  130  miles  from  the  sea.  On  the  main-stream 
side  of  the  island,  at  a  locality,  Lambarene,  were  located  the  French 
Government  post,  German  and  English  trading  houses,  and  a  French 
Roman  Catholic  Mission.  Our  Kangwe  station  was  a  mile  distant 
around  the  head  of  the  island,  on  the  mainland  side  of  the  smaller 
stream.  Mr.  Reading  had  planned  an  elaborate  and  noisy  reception 
for  us;  but,  it  being  Sabbath,  confined  the  noise  to  the  ringing  of 
the  church  bell.  "Lizzie"  was  their  little  daughter;  they  all  three 
are  living  in  the  United  States.] 

"Monday,  Dec.  26th.  Lizzie  has  many  presents.  Mrs.  Bachelor 
is  to  go  up  '  the  Hill '  [her  former  home].  Dr.  Nassau  wakes  with  a 
headache,  but  goes  with  her.  Comes  back  better,  and  all  enjoy  the 
Christmas  dinner;  duck,  fresh  cucumbers  and  beans,  nuts,  &c.  After 
dinner,  Dr.  N.  tells  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading  of  Mission  Meeting.  They 
very  discomposed  thereby.  Mrs.  B.  and  baby  go  on  the  Hill.  We 
stay,  and  see  the  fire-works  of  Welcome  to  new  missionaries;  firing 
of  guns  also  by  the  natives.     Dr.  N.  goes  for  the  night  with  I\Irs.  B." 

[Kangwe  was  a  very  steep  hill  some  three  hundred  feet  in  height. 
On  it  was  my  house  of  1878-1880  and  another  built  by  Dr.  Bachelor 
during  1880-1881.     Mr.  R's  house,  "Andgnde,"  was  at  the  junction 


74  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

of  Aiidgnde  Creek  with  the  Ogowe,  near  the  Ogowe  river-bank,  and 
about  half-mile  from  the  hill-top;  we  thought  Mrs.  B.  should  not  be 
alone  there  with  her  baby. 

In  a  draft  of  a  letter,  written  a  month  later,  evidently  for  the 
Spring  Meeting  of  her  W.  F.  M.  S.,  with  photographs  of  Gaboon  and 
the  "Mpongwe,"  Mrs.  Nassau  tells  of  her  journey:] 

"It  was  at  Libreville  that  I  first,  and  thus  far,  for  the  only  time, 
have  suffered  from  the  dreaded  fever  or  feverishness.  I  was  in  the 
bed;  and,  upon  the  fourth  day,  word  came  that  the  'Mpongwe'  would 
start  that  afternoon.  This  was  our  only  opiDortunity  of  reaching 
Kangwe,  save  b}^  a  ride  of  two  weeks  in  a  small  open  boat,  traveling  by 
day,  and  sleei^ing  in  native  villages  or  in  the  wilderness  by  night.  There 
was  no  alternative;  and  it  proved  to  be  just  the  needed  medicine;  for, 
I  began  to  improve  from  the  start,  and  was  well  when  we  reached 
Kangwe,  Christmas  of  1881.  A  memorable  Christmas!  I  wish  I  had 
the  dimensions  of  the  'Mpongwe,'  but  have  not.  The  Captain,  mate, 
and  engineer  were  white;  the  crew  and  passengers  were  black,  save 
my  husband,  Mrs.  Bachelor  and  her  boy  Otis,  three  months  old,  and 
self.  Dr.  Nassau  slept  on  upper  deck,  'poop-deck'  it  is  called.  The 
'ladies  cabin,'  dining-saloon,  and  ladies  berths  were  in  one  room. 
In  the  middle  of  it  was  our  table,  our  berths  were  the  seats  that  sur- 
rounded this  table,  except  one  night,  when  we  made  our  bed  on  the 
table,  in  order  to  give  both  ladies  the  comfort  of  the  mosquito-net, 
there  being  but  one  between  us.  That  night  was  Christmas  Eve ;  and, 
such  a  night!  We  were  literally  driven  from  the  room  by  the  swarm 
of  bugs,  and  took  refuge,  in  the  darkness,  upon  the  damp  crowded 
deck,  in  the  midst  of  prostrate  forms  of  all  sizes,  and  were  comforted 
(?)  by  the  odors  of  filthy  and  repulsive  native  men,  women,  and' 
children.  After  the  lights  were  put  out,  we  were  able  to  put  up  our 
bed  and  netting,  and  could  have  slept  quite  comfortably,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  oppressive  heat.  I  think  it  was  the  most  stifling  night  I 
ever  experienced.  Our  baby  lay  peacefully  at  our  heads,  its  mother 
resting  by  my  side,  all  of  us  on  the  improvised  bed.  The  dark  space 
[in  the  photograph]  under  the  awning  on  the  lower  deck,  includes  the 
'ladies  saloon,'  the  captain's,  mate's  and  engineer's  cabin,  and  the 
kitchen  ('galley'),  and  engine-room.  To  the  left  of  the  cabin,  at  the 
bow  of  the  boat,  is  the  deck  where  were  crowded  together  men, 
women,  and  naked  babies  in  most  delightful  confusion.  But,  even 
there,  we  saw  the  influence  of  christiaiiit}',  in  the  busy  fingers  of 
several  women  who  were  sewing.  .  .  .  We  had  arrived  at 
Kangwe,  had  been  kindly  welcomed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading  .  .  . 
had  climbed  the  steep  Hill,  and,  at  its  top,  found  my  present  home. 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO   AFRICA.  75 

Mrs.  Bachelor  had  come  to  gather  together  her  household  goods, 
and  move  them  to  Libreville.  She  expected  to  return  on  the  Friday 
of  the  same  week,  Dec.  30th;  but,  the  'Mpongwe'  was  stranded  on 
a  sand-bar,  and  up  river,  and  did  not  return  until  this  month.  But, 
the  'Pioneer,'  Livingstone's  old  steamer,  went  to  Gaboon  the  follow- 
ing week ;  and  this  brave  woman,  with  her  child  and  goods,  left  a  sick 
bed  (she  had  been  confined  for  several  days  on  account  of  over-work) 
and  went  on  this  old  steamer,  notwithstanding  it  had  been  condemned 
as  not  sea-worthy.  And  this  letter  will  be  trusted  to  the  same  steamer 
for  its  conveyance  to  Libreville;  and,  then,  I  trust  it  will  meet  the 
French  mail  in  season  to  bring  it  to  you  and  your  Spring  Meeting." 

[It  did  reach  that  meeting,  where,  while  she  was  actually  begin- 
ning her  African  work,  her  American  associates  were  barely  able  to 
give  her  up  from  her  secretaryship  with  themselves.  In  the  printed 
"Tenth  Annual  Report  of  the  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  Presbytery  of  Mon- 
mouth," of  April  12th,  1882,  there  are  references  to  Mrs.  Nassau, 
her  work,  and  her  letters:  "Mrs.  Parker  then  read  letters  from  Mrs. 
Nassau,  giving  an  interesting  account  of  the  commencement  of  her 
missionary  work  in  Africa.  Pictures  of  a  group  of  missionary  work- 
ers, and  scenes  in  the  African  mission-field  were  exhibited."  The 
Rev.  Dr.  E.  B.  Hodge  made  an  address  at  that  meeting,  in  which  he 
remarks:  "The  same  Wisdom  that  orders  one  laborer  to  Africa  orders 
other  laborers  to  Heaven."  Mrs.  Parker,  in  her  address  of  "Decen- 
nial Reminiscences,"  referring  to  the  organization  in  1872,  said: 
"The  annual  Meeting  of  the  year  1879  was  held  in  Freehold,  at  which 
time  Miss  Mary  B.  Foster  was  elected  Corresponding  Secretary.  I 
need  not  tell  you  of  Miss  Foster's  worth,  her  praise  is  in  all  the  churches, 
except  to  say  that  she  is  eminently  qualified  for  whatever  work  the 
Master  shall  appoint  her.  At  His  call,  she  has  gone  far  hence,  to 
teach  the  benighted  Africans  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  From  that 
land  of  darkness,  she  ajDj^eals  to  us  for  earnest  prayer  in  her  behalf. 
Her  office  must  be  filled  to-day." 

[And  the  Corresponding  Secretary  pro  tern.,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Davis, 
reported:  "No  one  regrets  the  absence  of  our  very  efficient  Cor. 
Sec'y,  Mrs.  Nassau,  more  than  the  one  who  is  trying  to  perform  the 
duties  of  her  office ;  but,  though  we  miss  her  cheerful  face,  and  earnest 
and  inspiring  words  today,  have  we  not  given  her  'God-speed'  to  go 
to  that  far-distant  land,  and  speak  a  word  for  Jesus?  With  thank- 
ful heart  we  rejoice  that  we  have  another  representative  in  the  field; 
one  who  has  gone,  as  we  trust,  armed  with  such  faith,  love  and  cour- 
age, as  will  enable  her  by  God's  grace,  to  overcome  many  difficulties, 
and  accomplish  an  important  work  in  that  dark  land.     .     .     .     We 


76  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

gladly  welcome  to  our  Presbyterial  Society  .  .  .  The  Foster 
Band  of  Barnegat,  organized  Feb'y  11th,  1882.  ...  On  the  9th 
of  Aug.  1881,  at  Asbury  Park  .  .  .  Miss  Foster  spoke  in  the 
Conference  meeting  with  deep  emotion  of  the  important  work  upon 
which  she  was  about  entering.  .  .  .  Many  recall  with  pleasing 
interest  the  '  Reception '  of  Miss  Foster  and  Dr.  Nassau,  in  the  parlors 
of  the  late  Mr.  Richardson,  in  Freehold;  the  presentation  of  an  Organ 
from  the  churches  of  Freehold,  Jamesburg,  Allentown,  Cranbury  1st, 
Hightstown  and  Shrewsbury,  and  the  happy  address  of  Mrs.  Parker 
on  that  occasion.  Then  came  the  Wedchng  at  Lakewood,  the  em- 
barcation  at  Philadelphia;  and,  now,  after  months  of  anxious  waiting, 
there  comes  to  the  Society,  a  characteristic  letter  from  the  far-away 
friends,  breathing  a  spirit  of  devotion  and  hope,  and  giving  an  inter- 
esting account  of  her  experience  and  prospects."] 

Resuming  Mrs.  Nassau's  Diary: — 

"Tuesday,  Dec.  27th.  Dr.  N.  comes  early;  buys  a  'kongongo' 
[a  craft,  part  canoe  and  part  boat].  I  ride  in  canoe  to  lower  landing; 
walk  up  the  hill  of  difficulty;  settle  a  little  in  new  quarters;  take 
some  charge.  Go  to  Prayer-Meeting;  many  take  part.  Chief  Re- 
nkombe  and  wives  called;  he  had  on  only  a  soiled  cloth,  the  handle 
of  an  umbrella  for  a  cane,  a  few  brass  rings  on  ankles,  and  ivory  ones 
on  wrists.  Dr.  B.  and  Mr.  R.  and  others  did  not  like  him.  Dr.  N. 
bo't  these  grounds  from  him,  paying  $20  (in  trade),  and  has  gotten 
along  with  him  well." 

[The  "lower  landing"  was  half  way  to  the  hill,  at  its  very  foot. 
The  hill  was  so  steep  that,  to  make  it  at  all  accessible,  I  had  (in  1878) 
cut  a  curved  path  out  of  its  face.  But  Mrs.  R.  had  found  it  so  im- 
practicable that  Mr.  R.  had  left  the  hill  and  built  Andende.  Mrs. 
Nassau  "took  some  charge"  because  the  hill  house  was  to  be  her 
home  for  probably  a  year,  and  Mrs.  B.  was  only  a  guest.  The  Galwa 
Chief  Renkombe  had  treated  me  well,  being  pleased  by  my  recogni- 
tion of  him  as  a  prominent  chief  when  I  bought  the  thirty-acre  prem- 
ises from  him  in  1876.] 

"Wed'y;  Dec.  28th.  Very  dull  in  morning;  sun,  in  afternoon. 
Many  women  and  men  come;  trying  to  nerves.  In  helping  Mrs. 
Bachelor,  and  getting  own  things  around,  was  very  tired;  cried. 
House  in  disorder;  dirt  around;  strange  language,  seems  as  if  I  should 
never  learn.  Go  to  God  in  prayer  for  help.  'They  that  trust  in  the 
Lord  shall  be  as  Mt.  Zion,  which  shall  not  be  removed,  but  abidcth 
forever.'" 


OCTOBER,    1881,    TO    AFRICA.  77 

[By  appointment  of  the  Mission,  I  was  given  no  work  or  authority 
at  Kangwe.  I  was  to  make  a  new  station  "not  within  fifty  miles 
of  Kangwe."  Kangwe  Station  was  in  charge  of  Mr.  Reading,  its 
finances,  school,  etc.  The  church  under  care  of  Mr.  Robinson.  Mrs. 
Nassau  was  given  one  of  the  two  houses  on  the  hill;  Mr.  Robinson 
in  the  other,  but  boarding  with  her.  Besides  her  domestic  affairs 
and  studies,  she  was  to  teach  a  few  girls  and  Mbora,  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry.] 

"Thursday,  Dec.  29th.  Mrs.  Bachelor  still  deep  in  her  packing, 
and  I  in  my  arranging.  I  helped  in  packing  dishes.  We  arose  late; 
and  the  first  sound  was  that  of  chimpanzees  barking  in  the  forest. 
Dr.  B's  tame  chimpanzee  is  very  amusing  in  his  acts,  rolling  over, 
scratching  his  head,  picking  out  the  chigoes  from  his  feet,  carrying 
his  handkerchief  in  his  loins,  &c.  Much  disorder,  because  of  packing 
and  changes.  The  dirt  and  dust  are  fearful.  The  house  (bamboo) 
is  very  dark,  and  the  light  shining  thro'  the  chinks  makes  it  seem  very 
barn-like.  The  wood  work  is  perfectly  plain  and  often  worm-eaten. 
The  floor  is  red  with  the  clay  soil.  The  matting  in  the  parlor,  but 
only  (native)  mats  in  the  bed-room.  This  morning  a  Fang  man 
came  with  a  chicken  and  iguma  [boiled  cassava  roots  wrapped  in  plan- 
tain leaves].  Saw  to  giving  out  the  [native  rations  of]  food,  plan- 
tains and  dried  fish.  Mrs.  Reading  sent  us  cucumbers  and  beans. 
I  have  done  nothing  to-day  towards  learning  the  language.  'He 
that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless 
come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his  sheaves  with  him.'  May  God 
help  me  to  go  forth  in  every  word  and  act,  in  performing  His  will 
and  work!  The  boys  are  catching  fowls  to-night,  with  hideous  noise; 
and  poor  Mrs.  Bachelor  is  wearied  with  the  cries  of  baby-boy  Otis. 
Orungu  (a  tribe  at  the  mouth  of  the  river)  and  the  Galwa  tribe  have 
*a  palaver'  (quarrel),  and  our  employes,  without  a  white  man  in  the 
boat,  are  not  safe  on  the  river,  and  Mr.  Reading  finds  trouble  in  se- 
curing men  to  take  a  canoe  to  Angala  to  meet  our  baggage  and  Mr, 
Robinson. 

"Friday,  Dec.  30th.  Iguwi  washed  my  bed-room  floor.  Mrs. 
Bachelor  seems  very  much  worn.  She  went  with  Mrs.  Reading  to 
Andende  to  dinner.  I  baked  my  first  cake;  not  very  fine.  I  wrote, 
after  dinner  a  little,  home ;  then  got  ready  for  going  to  '  Mama '  Read- 
ing's. Akendenge  and  another  carried  me  in  a  hammock  down  the 
Hill.  Mrs.  B's  foot  was  very  painful.  Enjoyed  supper  very  much. 
Mr.  Reading  and  Dr.  N.  told  of  their  experiences.  Mr.  R.  told  King 
Esongi's  history  of  the  origin  of  his  family:   A  woman,  fond  of  gar- 


78  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

dening;  raised  fine  squashes;  lost  many;  watched;  saw  celestial 
beings,  captured  one,  a  female,  and  retained;  given  as  wife  to  a  man 
in  the  town;  from  which  union  sprang  his  family.  Rode  home  in 
a  canoe;  walked  up;  the  Hill  tiresome,  but  very  beautiful  in  this 
moonlight.  [During  the  two  years  of  Mrs.  Nassau's  association 
with  Mrs.  Reading,  the  latter  was  not  only  sisterly,  but  gave  also 
somewhat  of  a  maternal  interest  unbroken  until  Mrs.  R.'s  almost 
fatal  illness  drove  her  finally  from  Africa.  The  native  word  "Ma" 
was  not  our  English  Avord  "Mamma;"  it  was  a  title  of  respect, 
equivalent  to  "Mr."  or  "Mrs."  Mrs.  Nassau  was  already  adapting 
herself  to  native  conditions  and  words.  Most  of  the  lads  and  young 
men  in  employ  of  the  two  Kangwe  households  had  begun  their 
civilization  in  my  school  of  1S78-80,  and  Dr.  B.'s  of  1880-81.] 

"Sat'y,  Dec.  31st.  New  Year's  Eve;  and  very  warm,  with  mos- 
quitoes and  summer  insects  flying  around  the  head.  Last  night,  a 
tornado  scattered  branches  and  dead  trees  around  us,  and  so  cooled 
the  air  that  Dr.  N.  caught  cold,  and  has  gone  to  bed  quite  sick.  Mrs. 
Reading  sent  a  'palm-cabbage.'  Iguwi  and  Mwenanga  [two  girls] 
have  just  bro't  us  a  native,  or,  as  they  call  it,  'black-man's'  mango- 
plum.  The  boys  have  cleared  or  swept  up  the  grounds  quite  nicely 
around  the  house.  I  hope  God  will  give  me  grace  to  know  and  per- 
form every  duty  in  all  the  relations  of  my  new  position.  Have  done 
no  studying  to-day." 

[Nothing,  in  all  the  experiences  of  my  African  life,  was  more  dele- 
terious to  my  health  than  the  sudden  falling  of  temperature  just 
preceding  a  tornado.  It  would  cause,  not  a  so-called  "cold,"  but  a 
malarial  chill.  "Palm-cabbage"  was  the  soft  heart  of  a  palm-tree, 
taken  from  the  top,  from  the  center  of  the  cluster  of  fronds.  It  was 
white  and  soft  as  a  turnip,  a  slight  suggestion  of  cabbage  taste,  and 
the  white  bases  of  the  unexpanded  fronds  made  good  chicken  salad. 
The  wild  mango  had  an  oily  kernel,  from  which  the  natives  made 
odika,  for  a  rich  gravy  with  or  without  meat.] 


1882,    AT   KANGWE.  79 


CHAPTER    XL 

1882.     At  Kangwe. 

"January  1st,  1882,  Sabbath.  The  first  Sabbath  of  the  year  '82; 
first  experience  in  Sab.  Sch.  teaching  [mission];  first  Sabbath  at 
Kangwe.  I  awoke  with  a  headache,  after  the  wakefuhiess  of  the  pre- 
ceding evening.  Mrs.  Bachelor  is  some  feverish,  and  Otis  fretful. 
Dr.  N.  better,  and  preached  in  Kangwe  church  this  morning  at  9.30 
o'clock,  with  Mbora  as  interpreter.  Mrs.  Reading  and  husband 
the  only  other  white  persons,  with  at  least  75  blacks.  When  coming 
up  hill  from  church,  met  'Driver'  ants,  and  their  captains  were  out, 
as  they  evidently  had  been  disturbed,  and  we  found  a  few  as  far  as 
the  house.  Sab.  Sch.  in  afternoon  in  the  School-room.  I  taught 
Akendenge  and  Agaia,  and  was  very  much  pleased  with  their  knowl- 
edge of  the  Scripture,  their  attention,  and  their  prompt  answers. 
It  has  been  quite  comfortable  in  temperature,  and  rain  has  fallen  all 
the  afternoon  very  gently.  At  5  P.  M.,  a  light  tornado  came  up, 
which  made  us  close  the  windows,  which  means  to  shut  out  all  the 
sunlight,  and  have  lamps  lighted.  The  winds  do  not  continue  long, 
tho'  the  rain  falls  more  heavily.  Attended  Monthly  Concert  in  evening. 
Agaia,  Ngawe,  Mbora,  and  two  others  prayed,  and  two  made  short 
addresses.  It  was  pleasing  to  see  and  hear,  even  when  not  under- 
standing, their  promptness,  earnestness,  and  apparent  desires  after 
God;  and,  particularly,  when  this  work  was  begun  only  in  Oct.  1876. 
In  that  Oct.,  the  first  stroke  was  made  in  the  forest,  with  nothing 
but  pure  unadulterated  heathenism.  Now,  the  boys  seem  like  christian 
boys,  and  many  of  them  speak  English.  May  God  fill  me  for  personal 
work  among  them!  And,  if  His  will  be  such,  may  that  work  be  that 
of  a  teacher.  [My  first  African  dialect  was  the  Benga;  in  it  I  was 
fluent.  Then,  from  1874  to  1876,  I  had  just  acquired  the  Dikele  at 
Belambila;  but  abandoned  it  for  Galwa  (a  dialect  of  Mpongwe)  at 
Kangwe,  1877  to  1880.  My  long  absence  in  the  United  States  had 
made  me  somewhat  halting  in  the  Galwa,  and  for  a  few  weeks  I  again 
used  an  interpreter.  It  is  my  sorrow  that  her  wish  was  not  granted. 
In  her  eight  months  at  Kangwe,  her  position  was  only  a  temporary 
one.  And  at  Talaguga  it  was  impossible.  The  two  years  there  were 
the  life  of  a  pioneer.  A  school  is  practicable  only  after  a  station  has 
become  thoroughly  established.] 

"Monday,  Jan'y  2d.  Akendenge  superintended  the  washing 
quite  successfully,  I  think.     He  had  half  a  dozen  little  boys  to  assist. 


80  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

.  .  .  The  girls  had  to  clean  their  kitchen,  which  they  called 'dead;' 
and  they  had  been  using  the  boys',  contrary  to  law.  The  husband 
went  this  morning  up  and  across  the  river  to  Inenga,  three  miles, 
called  on  King  Ranoki,  and  asked  him  to  provide  a  crew,  to  row  him 
up  the  river  to  Okota  and  Okanda.  Dr.  saw  six  hippopotami,  on 
the  way.  .  .  .  One  of  our  boys  is  named  'Bigman.'  The  night 
watchman,  'Rufus,'  is  calling,  'Watch!'  around  the  grounds.  Hamill 
is  writing  out  an  order  for  provisions  for  the  coming  year." 

[In  pursuance  of  my  arrangements  for  starting  a  new  station, 
I  needed  to  make  a  journey  of  inspection,  i\o  white  man  was  allowed 
by  the  Galwa  tribe  to  make  an  interior  journey  without  permission 
from  some  Galwa  chief.  My  efforts  to  obtain  this  permit  had  not 
been  satisfactory,  because  I  would  neither  pay  tribute  nor  consent 
to  a  fetish-making  for  a  success-charm.  I  then  applied  to  Renkombe. 
He,  though  an  inferior  chief,  was  flattered  by  my  application.  Him- 
self was  going,  with  his  own  canoes,  and  he  promised  to  take  me  and 
mine  under  his  protection.] 

"Tuesday,  Jan'y  3d.  Hamill  went  to  Mr.  Sinclair's  [the  Scotch 
agent  of  the  English  firm  of  Hatton  &  Cookson]  to  see  about  se- 
curing of  provisions  for  his  journey.  .  .  .  The  little  boys  were 
disobedient  this  morning  about  getting  fire  ready  for  the  ironing. 
They  were  called  by  me  to  the  back  porch,  where  I  took  their  names. 
After  the  husband  returned,  they  were  called  ujd  in  straight  array 
before  us.  It  was  amusing,  to  see  their  black  faces  and  bodies  bare 
to  the  waist,  their  gleaming  eyes,  and  long-drawn  out,  but  most  re- 
spectful sentences.  They  were  judged  by  the  Dr.,  and  pardoned, 
with  injunction  that  they  be  not  disobedient  hereafter.  As  punish- 
ment, they  were  required  to  pick  over  my  pillow  of  hair  instead  of 
playing.  They  were  called  off  to  milk  the  goat.  After  that  was  done, 
they  came  obediently  back,  tho'  Dr.  N.  had  not  expected  them.  The 
girls  had  been  very  disobedient  about  cooking  and  eating  in  their 
house.  Mrs.  B.  had  kept  them  from  School,  to  clean  and  prepare 
their  house.  They  were  all  the  morning  at  work,  and,  when  the  Dr. 
went  to  their  grounds,  they  had  not  touched  their  house,  but  had 
dug  a  level  place  in  the  hill-side,  where  they  had  put  their  fire-wood 
to  make  their  food.  ...  I  sjDoke  to  Mr.  Reading  about  teaching 
the  English  class;  he  did  not  seem  to  approve  of  it.  Mrs.  Bachelor 
has  been  lounging  about,  very  weak  and  feverish;  had  a  chill  be- 
fore dinner.  We  did  have  a  nicely  cooked  fowl  to-day.  She  enjoyed; 
still,  was  miserable.  By  supper  time,  she  was  too  sick  to  come  to 
the  table.  I  took  her  supper  to  her  side  in  the  parlor.  ...  I 
dressed  Otis  and  washed  him! 


1SS2,    AT    KANGWE.  81 

"Wed'y,  Jan'y  4th.  This  morning,  I  was  awakened  by  the  cries 
of  Otis,  and  the  groans  of  Mrs.  B.  I  went  to  them,  and  found  Mrs. 
B.  had  suffered  all  night  with  excessive  pain  in  her  head,  and  high 
fever.  How  troubled  I  was!  I  took  Otis  (it  was  5.30  A.  M).  By 
breakfast  time,  I  was  worn  out,  and  left  the  table  to  wash  the  tears 
from  my  eyes.  All  day,  I  felt  very  weak,  but  tried  to  wait  on  Mrs. 
B.  and  Otis.  She  was  in  great  pain  all  the  time.  I  wrote  a  note  to 
Mrs.  Reading,  which  bro't  her  up.  She  relieved  me  very  much,  and 
dressed  and  cared  for  Otis;  and  helped  greatly  in  caring  for  Mrs. 
B.  Her  coming  was  a  great  blessing.  By  night,  we  decided  Mrs. 
B.  must  be  put  in  our  bed.  Nguva  [the  native  elder]  lifted  her,  and 
the  boys  flocked  to  assist  and  give  sympathy.  But,  the  two  girls 
[Iguwi  and  Mwenanga]  acted  very  differently,  unkindly  disobedient, 
and  even  impertinent.  We  decided  to  drop  them  altogether,  but, 
allow  them  to  remain  on  Mrs.  B.'s  account.  A  strange  boy  appeared, 
Mbugu,  brother  of  Awora,  whom  we  selected  as  my  hoy,  to  care  for 
my  room,  and  wait  on  me.  This  he  did  promptly.  Of  course,  a 
new-horn.  I  could  wish  he  might  prove  to  me  a  boy  for  whom  I 
may  work,  and  successfully.  This  has  been  a  trying  and  a  prayerful 
day.  I  feel  so  sensibly  the  weight  of  responsibilities  in  regard  to 
Mrs.  B.  and  Otis.  We  made  special  prayer  twice  to-night.  Once, 
as  I  got  in  bed  with  Otis;  and,  again,  when  I  was  called  up  during 
the  night.  Otis  and  I  slept  together.  Dr.  N.  on  the  lounge,  troubled 
all  night  with  mosquitoes;  and  Agaia  and  Mburu  slept  on  the  floor 
on  Dr.  N.'s  traveling  mattress.  We  were  up,  every  two  hours;  and, 
my  heart  was  full  of  prayer  at  night  when  I  laid  down  and  tried 
to  commit  myself  to  God's  keeping,  trustingly  and  restfully.  [This 
noble  woman,  an  accomplished  teacher,  was  generously  putting  her 
hand  to  any  service,  even  menial,  for  a  suffering  mother,  and  to 
soothe  a  weeping  babe.  I  thought  of  all  this,  two  years  later,  when 
no  woman  in  the  Mission  came  to  Mrs.  Nassau  in  her  motherhood; 
and,  four  years  later,  when  the  only  offer,  of  even  temporary  aid  to 
my  babe  by  a  certain  lady,  was  forbidden  by  her  husband,  who,  once 
before  in  a  similar  case,  had  said  of  another  woman,  "she  didn't 
come  to  Africa  to  take  care  of  other  people's  babies;"  though,  sub- 
sequently, he  had  accepted,  for  his  own  infant,  devoted  service  from 
that  same  woman.] 

"Thursday,  Jan'y  5th.  Mrs.  B.  is  better.  -We  all  are  very  thank- 
ful. She  kept  her  bed  all  day.  I  did  not  dress  until  after  I  had  pre- 
pared dinner.  Kept  on  my  wrapper  and  night-dress.  Feel  some 
wearied.  Mrs.  Reading  sent  a  bread-pudding  for  dinner.  In  my 
haste,  in  trying  to  care  for  well  and  sick,  I   forgot   it.     At   supper 


82  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

time,  I  was  reminded  of  it ;  and  Mrs.  B.  and  Hamill  enjoyed  it  greatl}'. 
Ver}'  thankful. 

"Friday,  Jan'y  6th.  After  another  night  and  all  day  caring  for 
baby  Otis,  I  feel  pretty  nearly  done  for.  Mrs.  B.  got  up  this  after- 
noon and  dressed,  and  wrote  a  long  letter  to  her  husband;  after 
which,  she  is  suffering  most  excessively  from  her  head  again.  .  .  . 
I  gave  her  a  warm  bath,  after  the  husband  had  gone  to  Inquiry  Meet- 
ing; after  which  she  went  to  bed  with  Otis.  I  waited  for  Hamill; 
and  then  we  took  her  bed;  I  expecting  to  go  to  her  bedside  when- 
ever the  baby  should  cry.  I  awoke  just  before  the  6  o'clock  bell 
rang,  and  went  to  her  room;  found  she  had  slept  well,  and  Otis  too." 

[We  heard  that  the  German  "Mpongwe,"  on  which  Mrs.  B.had 
expected  to  return  to  Libreville  and  for  which  I  had  already  taken 
part  of  her  goods  to  their  trading-house,  was  fast  on  a  sand-bar  in  the 
Ngunye  river,  and  water  receding,  so  there  was  no  probability  of 
Mrs.  B.'s  being  able  soon  to  go  to  Libreville.] 

"Ssit'y,  Jan'y  7th.  Immediately  after  breakfast,  Hamill  went 
to  the  German  Trading-house,  to  bring  back  one  of  Mrs.  B.'s  trunks, 
and  the  goats,  and  to  get  food  for  his  own  journey. 

"Mr.  SchifT  had  written  yesterday  that  the  'Mpongwe'  would  not 
go  down  river  until  March.  Mrs.  B.  had  therefore  settled  down  at 
Kangwe  contentedly.  Mr.  S.  had  also  said  he  would  soon  go  to 
Libreville  overland,  to  find  what  arrangements  could  be  made.  We 
then  had  collected  our  letters,  and  Mrs.  B.  wrote  that  which  cost  her 
so  much  pain.  Mr.  Schiff  went,  in  the  afternoon  of  yesterday,  with- 
out our  letters.  This  was  very  trying  to  us.  Mr.  Reading  saw  his 
canoe  pass,  and  called  to  them  to  take  his  letters.  He  would  not 
stop;  and,  Avhen  in  Gaboon,  he  will  say  that  he  had  sent  word  to  the 
Mission,  and  they  had  sent  no  letters. 

"Work  goes  slowly,  by  boys  and  girls,  in  the  morning.  We  wait 
our  dinner  for  Hamill  until  12  o'clock.  He  does  not  come,  and  we 
eat.  At  L30  P.  M.  the  husband  arrives,  with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Sin- 
clair, the  English  Agent.  He  urges  Mrs.  B.  to  go  down  on  the  'Pion- 
eer,' which  arrived  yesterday.  She  had  said  she  would  not  go  on 
that  vessel,  if  she  waited  here  six  months.  But,  after  the  letter,  and 
Dr.  N.'s  judgment  in  favor,  she  decided  to  go.  It  was  very  trying 
to  me.  This  means  that  I  shall  be  alone  here  for  weeks.  And, 
then,  I  know,  if  the  'Pioneer'  should  sink,  we  would  be  much  blamed. 
But,  this  brave  woman  starts  to-night  for  Mr.  Sinclair's,  where  she 
remains  all  night;  then  goes  to  the  aged  and  apparently  unsafe 
vessel,  to  face  the  discomforts  and  dangers  of  the  135  miles  ride  down 


1SS2,    AT    KANGWE.  83 

river,  and  75  up  the  ocean  and  Gaboon  river.  We  were  busy  all  the 
afternoon  getting  her  ready.  Mbora  packed  her  traveling-bed. 
Akendenge  ironed.  Another  made  a  box  for  her  birds.  We  ate 
supper  together,  and  had  prayers.  I  have  been  full  all  day,  or  after- 
noon. At  6  o'clock,  I  followed  the  train  which  conveyed  her  and 
her  goods  to  the  boat.  She  rode,  down  the  Hill,  in  the  hammock; 
Mbora  and  another  gladly  taking  the  honor  of  bearing  it.  I  stood  in 
a  little  canoe  at  Andende,  and  watched  them  a  long  time.  It  was  a 
pretty  scene.  I  looked  out  upon  the  broad  river,  land  and  islands, 
beautiful  and  varied  foliage  of  rank  growth,  the  deafening  hum  of 
insects.  But,  as  I  saw  this  lady  move  off,  I  felt  I  was  in  Africa,  and 
lonely.  Then,  I  asked  that  Christ  might  be  nearer  to  me,  and  that 
His  presence  might  be  felt  by  me,  not  onl}'-  in  like  seasons  of  trial, 
but  in  prosperity  and  jo3^  I  stood  there  alone  (no,  a  black,  deeply- 
pocked  man,  with  only  a  cloth  on,  and  a  little  boy,  sat  picking  out 
chigoes  from  their  feet,  behind  me)  until  the  figures  were  not  distinct 
of  the  crew  and  friends.  Then,  I  turned  to  walk  up  the  steep  Hill. 
Strange!  how  tiresome  to  walk  up  it;  the  muscles  seem  so  i^ainfully 
weak.  I  came  up  much  of  the  way  by  Dr.  N.'s  old  path,  instead  of 
Dr.  B.'s  zig-zag  one.  And  now  I  am  writing  in  our  parlor  (?).  Iguwi, 
Agaia,  Mburu,  and  several  other  black-faced,  bright-eyed  boys  are 
talking  around  the  hall  light.  God  keep  Mrs.  Bachelor  and  Otis 
from  all  harm;  and  help  us  to  know  and  do  all  His  will!" 

[There  were  three  rival  trading  houses;  the  German,  Woermann; 
an  English,  Hatton  &  Cookson  ("H.  &  C."))  and  another  English,  J. 
Holt  &  Co.  The  latter  two  were  invariably  helpful,  kind,  and  thought- 
ful to  us,  and  for  many  years  refused  to  charge  for  transportation  of 
ourselves  and  our  goods.  The  German  were  often  disobliging,  and 
even  unkind,  and  were  the  first  to  make  a  charge  for  their  services. 
I  escorted  Mrs.  B.  to  the  H.  &  C.  house,  and  placed  on  the  "Pioneer" 
the  goods  I  had  previously  left  at  the  German  for  the  (then)  expected 
"Mpongwe."] 

"Sunday,  Jan'y  8th.  We  all  feel  the  effects  of  yesterday's  strain. 
Mr.  R.  and  self  the  only  white  persons  present  this  A.  M. ;  and  but 
few  natives.  [After  my  morning  service,  the  gun  of  the  "Pioneer" 
was  heard,  starting  its  journey.]  Akendenge  my  only  scholar.  Sab. 
Sch,  small.  Meeting  in  evening  small  also.  Have  been  in  prayer 
to-day;  but  feel  that  it  has  not  been  a  satisfactory  day.  I  have  not 
a  restful  strengthening  trust.  Mrs.  R.  sent  us  a  nice  dish  of  '  float. ' 
God  has,  during  the  past  week,  heard  prayers,  in  restoring  Mrs.  B. 
Now,  may  He  keep  her.  and  the  boy,  and  us!" 


84  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

[They  reached  Libreville  in  entire  safety.  Not  long  afterwards 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  B.  transferred  themselves  to  the  Baptist  Orissa  Mission 
in  India,  where  he  died.] 

"Monday,  Jan.  9th.  Have  spent  50  minutes  in  teaching  Mburu 
to  scrub.  Iguwi  has  been  sick,  and  is  acting  'the  lady.'  A  letter 
from  Mrs.  Bachelor  tells  of  her  good  health  yesterday.  Thanks,  our 
God!  My  husband  came  from  Andgnde  about  5.  P.  M.  All  the 
afternoon,  he  has  spent  in  preparing  for  his  journey;  getting  clothes, 
medicine,  tools,  food,  crockery,  together.  Mbora  wishes  me  to  stay 
here,  instead  of  going  to  Andende,  while  Hamill  is  away.  Think  I 
will.     .     .     .     Mbora  offered  to  do  my  ironing." 

[I  had  no  fear,  going  on  my  expected  month's  absence,  in  leaving 
Mrs.  Nassau  with  only  natives  on  the  hill.  My  acquaintance  with 
native  Bantu  character  had  given  me  entire  confidence  in  their 
devotion  as  personal  friends.  Moreover,  Mr.  Robinson  was  soon 
expected;  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading  were  within  reach.] 

"Tuesday,  Jan'y  10th.  Just  three  months  elapse,  and  my  hus- 
band leaves  me.  He  goes,  tho',  on  God's  errand,  I  believe;  so,  can 
say  nothing.  He  started  at  7  o'clock  this  morning,  for  his  canoe  at 
Andgnde.  The  special  native  friends  of  Hamill  came  to  see  me. 
Mbora  and  Agaia  are  ironing;  little  boy  scouring  tins.  .  .  . 
Thanks  that  Agaia  is  better.  P.  M.  Spent  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Read- 
ing. Had  long  talk  about  the  unsatisfactory  work  among  women ; 
and  the  little  spiritual  work  done  for  the  natives;  and  the  ill-efYect 
of  long-continued  intercourse  of  whites,  on  the  blacks;  the  latter  be- 
coming worthless,  &c.,  &c.  God  sent  us  here.  His  is  the  powef. 
Grant  us  that  necessary  grace  for  every  duty.  Oh!  most  high  God! 
Evening  prayer-meeting  in  the  hall.     I  led  very  poorly." 

[In  her  diaries,  until  her  death,  I  observe  that,  along  with  record 
of  her  petitions  to  God,  Mrs.  Nassau  makes  almost  daily  note  of 
thanks.  In  that  reported  conversation,  I  know  that  it  was  not 
Mrs.  Nassau's  thought  that  "intercourse"  had  "ill-effect"  unless  the 
native  was  allowed  to  depend  on  foreign  aid.] 

I  started  with  my  deeply  laden  canoe  and  crew  of  nine,  escorted 
by  Chief  Renkombe  and  his  two  canoes.  With  various  experiences 
I  went  up  river  and  around  and  over  many  cataracts,  to  a  distance 
of  200  miles,  making,  on  the  way,  cursory  examination  of  a  dozen 
Ic  sites  for  my  proposed  new  station.     At  that  point,  I  left 


1882,  AT  kangwf:.  85 

Renkombe  to  proceed  on  his  own  errand  100  miles  farther,  and  I 
started  down  river.  On  the  way  back,  by  more  careful  examination, 
I  reduced  the  number  of  possible  sites  to  a  probable  three,  all  of 
them  within  three  miles  of  each  other  and  about  seventy  miles  from 
Kangwe.  I  was  able  to  send  back  to  Mrs.  Nassau  a  number  of  letters, 
by  frequently  passing  canoes,  and  twice  heard  from  her  by  being 
overtaken  by  canoes. 

I  returned  on  Monday,  January  30th,  a  three  weeks'  absence. 

In  Mrs.  Nassau's  diary  I  see  that  during  my  absence  little  Lizzie 
Reading  had  been  sick,  and  recovered,  and  was  attended  by  "Julia 
Green,"  a  Christian  woman  of  the  Mpongwe  tribe. 

Mr.  R.  had  offered  to  ]\Irs.  Nassau  the  charge  of  the  school.  She 
was  daily  teaching'  candidate  Mbora,  and  learning  Mpongwe  from 
him  and  the  school  children.  On  January  14th  she  records:  "As  I 
walked  in  the  garden,  alone,  yet  feeling  God's  presence,  I  watched  the 
clouds,  and  recalled  cousin  Frank's  [Rev.  F.  ]\I.  Todd]  discourse  at 
Holmanville,  when  he  so  beautifully  told  us  of  the  lesson  to  be  de- 
rived from  'Clouds.'  I  also  penetrated  a  little  way  in  to  the  dark 
over-shadowed  walk,  until  I  frightened  some  native  inhabitant,  when 
I  retreated."  She  wished  to  be  courteous  to  the  white  traders,  but 
was  annoyed  that  they  chose  the  Sabbath  for  their  visiting  day. 
She  became  familiar  with  the  almost  daily  white-ant  annoyance. 
On  January  16th  she  notes  the  seventeenth  anniversary  of  her  father's 
death : — 

I  find  on  a  slip  of  paper  a  draft  of  her  final  resignation  of  her 
secretaryship  of  the  Monmouth  Presbytery  W.  F.  M.  S.  It  is  with- 
out date,  but  evidently  was  written  in  January,  1882,  in  time  for  the 
Spring  Meeting  of  1882:— 

"Mrs.  Joel  Parker,  Pres.  of  W.  F.  M.  Soc.  of  Monmouth  P'by,  and 
ladies  interested  in  the  same  grand  cause:— 

"My  dear  Friends: — Please  accept  these  words  as  a  resignation 
of  the  office  of  Cor.  Sec.  of  ]\Ion.  Presbytery,  my  present  home  making. 
.  .  .  Three  years  ago,  a  letter  was  placed  in  my  hands  saying 
that  the  ladies  had  nominated  the  recipient  Sec'y  of  your  Soc'3^  That 
letter  was  the  electric  spark  that  kindled  anew  my  For.  Miss'y  zeal; 
and  a  most  delightful  task  has  it  been  to  do  whatever  I  was  able  in 
the  accomplishment  of  the  duties  incumbent.  But,  when  the  honor 
was  accepted,  a  feeling  came  to  me  that  this  step  would  lead  to  one 
more  closely  connected  with  the  work.  God  has  guided  me,  step  by 
step,  until  I  am  now,  in  the  distant  field,  and  can  no  longer  serve  you 
in  the  home  work.     I  had  wanted  to  do  much  more  this  yeixv  than 


86  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

ever,  in  the  'Slon.  P'by,  towards  inciting  more  praj'erful  interest  and 
earnest  labors.  The  failures  of  last  Winter  were  somewhat  chilling; 
and,  in  the  midst  of  cares  which  came  to  me  in  the  change  of  homes 
and  fields,  I  have  been  apparently  more  selfishlj'  engaged,  unable  to 
communicate  with  the  Auxiliaries,  and  doing  nothing  toward  aiding 
in  the  commemoration  of  our  'decennial  year.'  My  written  words 
have  been  few;  my  prayers  and  tho'ts  of  you,  daily.  But,  I  fear  this 
may  sound  as  if  prayer  and  words  would  accomplish  the  results  de- 
sired. God  forgive  any  such  thoughts.  His  is  the  power,  as  well  as 
the  kingdom.  In  America,  certainly  no  less  in  Africa,  the  utter  help- 
lessness, worse  than  helplessness  of  man,  is  not  only  known,  but  often 
sadly,  fully  realized  by  true  laborers.  His  strength  is  made  perfect 
in  weakness.  Jesus  has  overcome  the  World.  And,  however  erring 
or  weak  His  instruments,  His  Word  is  powerful;  with  it  we  fight; 
by  it  we  conquer.     .     .     ." 

The  above  was  enclosed  in  a  letter  to  ]\Irs.  Parker,  of  which  the 
following  is  the  draft: — 

"Ogowe  River,  Kangwe,  S.  W.  Africa. 
"Jan'y  17th,  1882. 

"My  dear  Mrs.  Parker: — I  certainly  supposed  I  had  written 
to  you  and  Mrs.  Chandler.  From  my  record,  I  find  I  have  not.  I 
am  very  very  sorry  at  this  neglect.  It  was  so  imjjressed  on  my  mind, 
or  I  should  have  before  this  sent  you  word  of  our  welfare.  I  have 
daily,  I  think  it  may  be  truly  said,  recrossed  the  waters,  and  been 
with  you.  Since  our  arrival  in  Gaboon,  and  later  here  in  Kangwe, 
your  dear  Helen's  face  has  been  near  me;  and  always  was  I  reminded 
of  the  kind  words  and  deeds  of  her  own  dear  Mother;  and  I  heard 
again  the  greetings  and  Christian  'God  speed'  of  all  the  friends  of 
Freehold  and  Monmouth  Presbytery. 

"My  young  South  American  cousin,  when  writing  to  her  Papa, 
absent  in  the  U.  S.,  addressed  him  thus,  in  her  broken  English,  'Papa, 
I  embrace  you.'  These  words  seem  better  to  express  my  yearnings 
for  the  absent  friends  in  America,  than  any  other  of  more  fi'equent 
use.  I  will  enclose  my  personal  resignation,  and  a  letter  which  you 
can  use,  as  you  think  best. 

"I  am  engaged  in  work  that  the  ladies  will  sympathize  with,  even 
if  it  be  not  strictly  and  purely  mission-work,  cleaning  house.  In 
January  too!  But,  my  boys  and  their  mistress  perspire  most  pro- 
fusely. If,  after  the  work  was  done,  it  could  be  as  apparent  in  your 
homes,  I  would  be  glad.  But,  these  bamboo  houses,  of  such  primitive 
make,  give  little  satisfaction  to  the  Yankee  house-keeper.  The 
hardest  work  is  done  by  two  boys  who  give  me  the  hours  between 


1882,    AT    KANGWE.  87 

7.30  A.  M.  and  11.30.  These  are  their  working  hours.  In  the  after- 
noon, they  go  to  School.  I  have  not  been  free  from  the  lonehness 
of  this  isolated  home;  but,  not  many  hours  have  been  spent  in  mourn- 
ing, nor  have  I  many  times  given  myself  to  tears,  tho'  I  may  have 
been  so  inclined.  I  am  alone  in  this  house,  save  a  little  girl,  the  be- 
trothed of  one  of  the  School-boys.  But,  during  the  day,  I  am  never 
alone.  It  is  7.00  o'clk,  of  course,  the  needed  lamps  are  lit,  and  in 
the  hall  or  waiting-room;  and,  in  the  near  yard,  I  hear  the  voices  of 
the  boys  in  their  evening  hour  of  recreation.  I  presume  they  are 
gossiping  and  teasing  one  another,  just  as  American  boys  would. 
They  have  but  two  regular  meals;  tho'  I  see  them  'piecing'  be- 
tween times.  At  11.30  A.  M.,  and  at  5.30  P.  M.,  they  receive  their 
rations  of  four  plantains  each.  Some  times  (and  such  times  are  the 
happy  ones  to  them)  dried  fish  is  given  out. 

"Our  associate  missionaries  are  about  a  half-mile  from  us.  To 
reach  them,  we  have  to  walk  down  a  very  steep  hill,  and  then  ride  in 
the  canoe  eight  minutes.  Jan'y  20th,  Friday.  This  has  been  a  Black 
Friday  to  me  in  the  house.  Disobedience  among  the  boys  and  punish- 
ments, and  loss  of  temper  for  myself. 

"I  heard  a  missionary  say  that  the  destroying  of  one's  temper 
was  one  of  the  sacrifices  to  be  made  by  us.  I  do  not  think  that  true; 
but,  I  have  learned  that  we  need  an  unusual  amount  of  patience  here. 

"I  have  been  very  well,  with  the  exception  of  two  weeks  while 
in  Gaboon.  I  left  my  bed  to  start  on  my  journey  from  Libreville 
to  Kangwe.  But,  I  grew  better  from  the  first  day;  and,  when  I 
reached  Kangwe,  after  a  ride  of  four  days,  was  well.  I  have,  in  com- 
mon with  all  foreigners  in  Africa,  a  climatic  affection.  In  me,  it 
appears  in  the  form  of  blotches,  similar  in  appearance  and  sensation 
to  severe  mosquito  bites.  My  hands  and  face  and  ankles  have  been 
covered,  much  to  my  annoyance,  and  also  to  the  loss  of  all  claim  to 
good  looks.  The  walk  up  the  Hill  uses  up  all  my  strength,  and  excites 
most  excessive  heat;  while,  at  home,  I  could  do  it  much  more  easily. 
I  shall  think  of  you,  during  your  Spring  Meeting,  particularly.  Give 
my  love  to  all  the  friends.  To  Mrs.  Chandler  particularly.  Her 
dear  face  refreshes  me.  How  I  do  enjoy  my  friends'  i^ictures!  My 
love  to  Mrs.  Robinson,  when  you  see  her;  and  to  Mrs.  Solomon  and 
her  sister.  Please  tell  them  to  pray  more  earnestly  than  ever  for  her 
who  has  already  felt  the  blessing  of  their  prayers.  How  I  do  long 
to  hear  from  you  all,  and  from  the  home-friends.  Not  a  word  since 
departure.  I  have  written  this  evening,  in  snatches  of  time.  I  wish 
I  could  tell  you  more  definitely  and  clearly  of  my  surroundings  and 
of  myself,  but  I  fear  I  could  not,  even  had  I  the  time.  I  will  put 
this  aside,  and  if  any  new  and  strange  event  happens,  I  will  add  to  it." 


88  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

[Candidate  Mbora  was  teacher  of  'Sir.  Reading's  school,  but  he  was 
also  ^Irs.  Nassau's  pupil;  and  there  was  friction,  because  of  Mbora 's 
neglect  of  the  school.  In  returning  from  a  call  on  Mrs.  Reading,  on 
January  21st,  "in  coming  over  in  the  boat,  felt  homesick."  But, 
arriving  on  the  hill,  "the  boys'  hearty  welcome  makes  me  forget  the 
sadness,  and  causes  me  to  give  thanks.  Tho',  to  have  some  one  with 
me,  Hamill  for  instance,  would  be  a  very  happy  thing.  God  preserve 
and  keep  him!"  The  reception  of  one  of  my  letters  is  noted  on  the 
24th:  "Thanks;  Good  news  from  Dr.  Nassau,  my  Jionor'ed  and  be- 
loved husband.  God  is  is  honoring  him.  In  Thee  is  our  trust!" 
Mr.  Robinson  had  arrived  on  the  27th.] 

"Jan.  30th.  This  is  the  beginning  of  the  new  regime;  the  author- 
ity was  divided  between  ]\Ir.  Reading  and  Mr.  Robinson.  Mr.  Rob- 
inson in  charge  of  the  church ;  and,  it  was  finally  decided  that  I  should 
have  ]Mbora  in  some  studies  in  the  morning.  I  visited  the  School, 
for  the  first  time." 

[After  mv  return  from  the  Akanda  country  on  January  30th,  I 
assisted  in  the  arrangement  for  distribution  of  the  work  of  Kangwe 
station;  as  a  result  of  which,  Mrs.  Nassau,  instead  of  having  simply 
a  residence  there,  was  given  officially  a  share  in  the  school-work  and 
the  instruction  of  candidate  Mbora.  On  February  16th,  is  a  record: 
"Thanks;  for  privilege  of  teaching."] 

A  gleam  of  the  humor  of  IMrs.  Nassau  that  sometimes  cropped 
over  her  usual  dignity.  On  Tuesday,  February  7th,  is  the  record: 
"Ironing  day.  Did  a  little  more  towards  fixing  up  room.  Heard 
Mbora 's  lesson.  Heard  Onivi's.  Mended  dress-skirt  and  vest. 
Teased  my  husband.  Watched  him  make  frame  for  new  filter.' 
Prayer-Meeting. " 

In  a  letter  to  her  mother,  of  date  February  14th: — "My  husband 
returned  from  'up  river,'  Jan'y  30th,  and  gives  glowing  accounts  of 
the  new  countrv.  Was  gone  just  three  weeks,  instead  of  two  months, 
as  first  expected.  He  did  not  go  as  far  as  anticipated;  because,  to 
do  so,  would  be  to  be  kept  there  for  the  two  months,  not  being  able 
to  return  on  account  of  low  water.  But,  he  went  as  far  as  the  Rap- 
ids, and  beyond  the  forest-belt,  where  is  prairie-land,  about  200  miles 
be3'ond  Kangwe.  The  site  he  selected  is  perhajis  70  miles  above  us, 
among  high  hills,  with  clear  running  waters  (the  water  by  us  is  dark 
and  muddy),  and  few  mosquitoes." 

Mr.  Reading  offered  to  go  with  me  on  an  up-ri\er  trip,  to  assist 
in  making  a  final  choice  between  the  three  desirable  sites  to  which  I 


18S2,    AT    RANG  WE.  89 

had  reduced  the  possible  dozen.  We  started  on  Friday,  Fcbruarj' 
10th,  decided  on  the  Talaguga  site,  and  returned  on  Frida}^,  17th,  in 
time  for  the  preparatory  service  of  the  quarterly  Communion.  Many 
letters  from  the  United  States  were  awaiting  me.  Part  of  Mrs. 
Nassau's  record  of  the  17th  is:  "Thanks;  for  the  hu.sband's  safe 
return;  for  the  solemnity  of  the  fleeting;  for  the  love  of  my  hus- 
band's relatives." 

Mrs.  Nassau  was  not  indifferent  to  the  importance  of  acquiring 
the  native  language;  but,  in  her  unselfish  devotion  to  the  household 
comfort  of  Mr.  Robinson  and  myself,  she  did  neglect  her  native 
study,  so  that  I  urged  her  in  an  unusual  manner: — "Feb'y  22d. 
Husband  reproving  again  for  not  learning  language."  And  on  the 
23d  an  amusing  illustration  of  the  desirability  of  being  able  to  speak : 
"Onivi's  sore  hand  had  to  be  poulticed.  Told  Awora  to  bring  milk 
and  bread  in  a  little  cup;  he  brought  me  soda  in  a  large  pan."  In 
February,  Mrs.  Nassau  presented  me  with  a  large  blank  scrap-book 
she  had  bought  in  Liverpool.  On  the  first  page  she  pasted  the  fol- 
lowing newspaper  quotation,  as  an  appropriate  dedication. 

"FATE. 

"Two  shall  be  born,  the  whole  wide  world  apart. 
And  speak  in  different  tongues,  and  have  no  thought 
Each  of  the  other's  being,  and  no  heed. 

"And  these,  o'er  unknown  seas  to  unknown  lands 
Shall  cross,  escaping  wreck,  defying  death ; 
And,  all  unconsciously,  shaping  everj'  act, 
And  bend  each  wandering  step  to  this  one  end, — 
That,  one  day  out  of  darkness  they  shall  meet. 
And  read  life's  meaning  in  each  other's  eyes. 

"And  two  shall  walk  some  narrow  way  of  life. 
So  nearly  side  by  side,  that,  should  one  turn 
Ever  so  little  space  to  left  or  right, 
They  needs  must  stand  acknowledged  face  to  face. 
And,  yet,  with  wishful  eyes  that  never  meet. 
With  groping  hands  that  never  clasp,  and  lips 
Calling  in  vain  to  ears  that  neA^er  hear. 
They  seek  each  other  all  their  weary  days, 
And  die  unsatisfied;  and  this  is  Fate." 

During  February,  1882,  I  was  busy  gathering  materials  and  a 
crew  of  workmen  to  begin  my  new  station  up-river.     Then  the  men 


90  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

I  had  engaged  struck  for  higher  wages.  This  often  happened  among 
Mission  employes;  traders  gave  wages  so  much  larger  than  we  could 
afford.  I  frequently  yielded  to  any  reasonable  complaints,  but  I 
never  yielded  to  a  strike;  often  endured  much  privation  rather  than 
yield.  So  I  went  down  river  to  seek  new  employes,  and  was  gone 
several  days.  Mrs.  Nassau's  record:  "Sat.  Mar.  4th.  Am  looking 
for  my  husband,  tho'  it  is  late.  Fear  I  shall  be  disappointed."  "Sab- 
bath Mar.  5th.  Xo  husband  came.  Bright  morning.  Feel  more 
the  absence  of  husband  than  ever  before."  "Monday,  6th.  Wash- 
ing; started  early.  Just  as  I  was  most  deeply  engaged  in  reading  of 
my  duties  as  a  wife  in  Dr.  N.'s  work,  who  should  come  into  the  room 
but  my  beloved  husband.  He  had  a  comfortable  journey,  and  was 
quite  successful.  ...  I  well.  Bro't  wild  ox,  a  piece  to  bake. 
Thanks,  for  the  husband's  return,  for  his  good  journey,  for  his  love." 

I  started  up  river,  with  my  boat  and  canoes  and  crews,  on  Tues- 
day, Mar.  7th,  for  a  month's  absence,  in  clearing  forest  and  erecting 
a  temporary  hut  at  Talaguga.  Arrived  there  on  the  11th.  And, 
I  returned  on  April  8th. 

Under  date  of  March  11th,  1882,  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  to  "My 
dear  Friends  of  Holmanville,  W.  F.  M.  Soc.  and  Sabbath  School: — 
It  is  five  months  to-day  since  I  was  carried  away  from  Lakewood, 
and,  for  the  last  time,  I  looked  into  the  faces  of  the  dear  ones  that 
gathered  around  me.  I  wonder  what  these  many  clays  have  bro't  to 
you!  Am  sure,  Winter  is  past,  and  Spring  has  opened,  bringing  with 
it  the  usual  busy  days.  I  have  not  been  able  to  realize  your  Winter, 
as  the  thermometer  has  not  been  lower  than  74°  any  day  or  night. 
Neither  can  we  enjoy  the  freshness  and  beauty  of  your  Spring  days. 
These  perennial  Summers,  to  us  who  have  felt  the  invigorating  chill- 
of  Winter,  and  who  are  still  inhabiting  bodies  not  yet  made  perfect 
(and  therefore  not  yet  ready  for  the  perfect  year)  are  wearisome. 

"From  the  window  before  me,  I  look  out  upon  the  near  river 
running  at  the  foot  of  the  Hill  upon  which  our  house  is  built.  The 
ascent  is  quite  steep,  and  of  height  over  200  feet.  Just  now,  I  hear 
the  sound  of  the  Kroo-men  who  are  bringing  up  a  long  stick  of  timber 
for  the  new  house  which  is  to  be  erected  near  the  present  one  [for 
Mr.  Robinson].  j\Iany  of  these  timbers  have  been  brought  up  on  the 
shoulders  of  the  men.  But,  what  a  time  they  did  make  while  doing 
it!  And  many  a  shoulder  was  badly  bruised.  You  have  heard  of 
the  poisonous  centipede.  (By  the  way,  tho'  I  have  seen  a  few,  I  have 
not  yet  been  bitten  by  any  venomous  insect,  or  by  any  thing  worse 
than  the  sand-fly  and  mosquito.)  But,  when  these  long  beams  of 
42  feet  in  length  are  coming  up  the  hill-sitle  with  20  men  beneath 


1882,    AT    RANG  WE.  91 

them,  each  one  reminds  me,  more  than  a  Httle,  of  a  hirge  centipede. 
Just  here,  let  me  acknowledge  the  care  of  our  Heavenly  Master, 
who  has,  in  such  a  wonderful  way  guarded  us  from  all  danger,  and 
given  to  us  such  comfortable  health.  Directly  opposite  us  is  an 
island  several  miles  in  length;  and,  beyond  it,  we  see  the  blue  murky 
tops  of  the  distant  but  not  high  hills. 

"Mon.  Mar.  13th.  As  a  steam-launch  is  expected  daily,  I  must 
write  this  morning,  tho'  I  feel  unfit  for  using  the  pen.  Let  me  tell 
you  the  labors  of  yesterday;  then,  will  come  to  the  recent  excitement 
which  has  so  used  up  my  strength.  The  rising  bell  rang  fifteen  minutes 
before  6  o'clock.  I  must  be  up  in  good  time,  or,  my  boys  will  be  be- 
hind. Prayers  at  7  o'clock;  for  the  entire  School,  in  the  school-room. 
Breakfast  at  7.30.  At  8.30,  first  bell  for  morning  Services;  9.30 
the  Service  begins.  The  church  [the  original  one]  is  built  at  nearly 
the  foot  of  the  Hill.  We  have  quite  a  walk  to  reach  it,  as  we  do  not 
go  down  directly,  the  angle  of  descent  being  in  some  places  at  least 
45°,  but  in  a  zigzag  manner.  The  bell  is  a  sweet  sounding  one,  and 
a  pleasant  reminder  of  home.  The  bell-man  takes  a  great  delight 
in  his  office,  ringing  loud  and  long.  The  congregation  is  composed, 
with  very  few  excei^tions,  of  our  mission-boys.  Just  now,  the  12  Kroo- 
men  (what  a  delight  their  muscles  would  be  to  the  athletes  of  America!) 
make  quite  an  addition  to  our  numbers.  These  Kroo-men  are  the 
back-bone  and  muscles  of  this  country.  Not  so  very  large;  but, 
such  rounded  limbs  I  have  never  seen  elsewhere.  I  have  seen  young 
boys  [in  the  United  States]  boasting  of  their  muscular  strength;  but, 
these  fellows  have  no  need  to  boast,  their  strength  is  self-evident. 
But  no  one  [in  our  Mission]  has  been  able  to  learn  their  language, 
tho'  they  delight  in  learning  English,  and  in  concealing  their  own. 
They  are  to  be  our  'steamer,'  bringing  up-river  our  goods  by  canoe. 
I  learn  that  my  organ  is  in  Gaboon,  and,  before  many  weeks,  I  hope 
again  to  hear  familiar  sounds.  Forgive  me: — -I  was  writing  of  the 
congregation.  Mr.  Robinson  can  not  yet  speak  the  language;  so,  he 
uses  the  interpreter,  Mbora.  .  .  .  To  go  back  to  Sabbath: — 
Reached  home  about  11.00.  Dinner  at  12.00.  Sab.  Sch.  at  3  P.  M. 
I  have  a  class  of  6  boys  and  1  girl.  These  can  read  Mpongwe.  I 
heard  them  recite  the  lesson,  12  verses.  Two  did  it  well.  One,  for 
the  first  time,  failed.  Supper  at  5.30.  Prayer-Meeting  at  7.00.  I 
have  not  always  gone,  as  it  is  not  tho't  safe  to  leave  the  house  alone, 
on  account  of  the  Fang.  But,  after  all  had  gone,  and  I  had  heard  the 
sound  of  their  gospel  hymns,  I  could  not  resist  the  drawing,  locked  up 
the  house,  took  a  small  lamp  in  my  hand,  and  walked  to  the  school- 
house  alone.     It  was  very  dark.    I  have  not  often  been  afraid.    Still, 


92  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

have  had  one  or  two  frights.  Mbora  has  quite  a  disposition  to  excite 
people,  and  has  told  me  large  stories  of  leopards,  elephants,  and 
'bushmen.'  Am  not  troubled.  There  was  a  scare  of  a  leopard  last 
week,  as  one  of  the  boys  said  he  heard  it  'talk;'  but,  we  doubted  it. 
We  hear  daily,  and  often  Mr.  Robinson  has  seen,  monkeys  and  chim- 
panzees. Parrots  scream  constantly;  but,  no  sweet  singers  are  heard. 
But,  I  was  to  tell  you  of  last  night's  scare : — After  the  strain  of  Sab- 
bath, none  of  us  sleep  well.  I  was. dreaming  last  night  when  in  sleep 
of  home-friends.  A  most  distressful  sound  from  the  "goat-house, 
and  the  roar  of  thunder  awoke  me  fully.  I  went  to  the  window.  Heard 
our  watchman  around  calling,  'Watch!'  and  was  about  to  go  back 
to  bed,  when  that  sound  was  so  great,  evidencing  mortal  pain  and 
terror,  that  I  hastily  dressed.  I  heard  the  little  boys  and  Rufus 
(the  watchman)  walking  leisurely,  native  like,  towards  the  sounds. 
How  I  wanted  to  punch  them,  in  my  nervous  haste  and  sympathy! 
When  I  neared  the  door,  Mr.  Robinson  (who  has  his  sleeping-room 
in  the  school-room  not  far  off)  was  heard;  and  soon  the  poor  goats 
and  sheep  rushed  past  me,  still  crying,  and  oft  stopping  to  pick  off 
something,  or  roUing  in  the  dust.  'Driver'  ants!  We  found  two 
chickens  dead  this  morning;  and  I  doubt  not  the  goats  would  have 
lost  their  lives  had  they  not  been  liberated.  Mr.  R.  felt  their  presence 
last  night;  and  we  each  retired  to  our  rooms,  in  an  uneasy  state  of 
mind,  lest  the  Army  should  attack  our  houses.  They  did  not.  And 
this  morning  we  found  at  least  three  distinct  divisions,  whether  of 
the  one  grand  army  or  not  we  can  not  tell.  One  division  had  ascended 
a  tree.  The  entire  line  was  sentineled  by  an  unbroken  line  of  small 
ones.  At  an  especial  point  [crossing  a  path]  the  line  was  entirely 
covered  by  [a  living  tunnel  of]  the  sentinels  (pickets)  and  captains. 
The  privates,  nothing  could  stop  [except  fire]  in  their  upward  or  down- 
ward march.  They  made  a  perceptible  track  by  their  constant  patter 
of  feet.  Their  number: — this  army  first  arrived  here,  I  suppose, 
about  1.30  A.  M.,  and  they  left  about  11  o'clock;  fully  10  hours  in 
passing.  They  have  attacked  this  house,  but  not  this  time.  We  tried 
to  tempt  them,  by  putting  meat  in  their  way;  but,  they  seemed  to 
have  gotten  all  necessary  stores,  and  would  not  stop  to  take  in  more 
supphes. 

"And  so,  I  could  go  on  and  on;  but,  must  go  to  other  friends. 
There  was  a  half  hour  of  yesterday,  I  have  not  spoken  of.  This  may  be 
a  fitting  ending  to  a  very  rambling  letter,  and  one  hardly  suitable  to 
be  read  to  you  on  the  Sabbath.  Remember,  I  am  writing  on  Monday; 
and  the  missionary's  life  is  as  full  of  secular  things  as  those  at  home, 
more  so,  often;  tho'  I  remember  how  I  used  to  think  letters  from  the 
former  should  be  so  spiritual.     Often  the  bright  spots  of  the  home- 


1882,    AT    KANGWE.  93 

picture,  among  the  most  attractive  now,  are  those  where  I  met  with 
friends,  and  together  worshiped,  and  felt  the  power  of  God's  spirit. 
That  presence  was  then  often  forcibly  realized;  but  now,  I  often 
go,  as  I  did  last  evening,  quite  a  distance  from  the  house,  into  what 
is  called  our  garden,  entirely  away  from  man  or  any  human  work. 
The  tall  graceful  palms  and  native  jDrimeval  forest  trees,  the  plantain 
trees  with  their  broad  leaves  often  more  than  six  ft.  in  length,  around 
and  'in  the  darkling  wood,  amidst  the  cool  and  silence,'  if  I  knelt 
not,  I  did  'offer  to  the  Mightiest  solemn  thanks  and  supplications'; 
for,   I  would  not,  could  I  'resist  the  sacred  influences'  which 

'  From  the  stilly  twilight  of  the  place 
And  from  the  gray  old  trunks  that  high  in  heaven 
Mingled  their  mossy  boughs,  and  from  the  sound 
Of  the  invisible  breath  that  swayed  at  once 
All  their  green  tops, 
Stole  over  (me)  and  bowed 
My  spirit  with  the  thought  of  boundless  power 
And  inaccessible  majesty.' 

Aye!  more  than  'these  dim  vaults,  these  winding  aisles'  moved 
me.  Amid  them,  I  felt  my  utter  loneliness;  but,  looking  upward  to 
the  clouds,  dark,  but  with  golden  edges,  I  knew  behind  them  was  the 
setting  sun,  beyond  the  dear  home-land.  Surely,  there  were  loving, 
praying,  hearts,  too.  I  was  not  alone.  But,  farther  still,  and  upward, 
was  the  Great  White  Throne,  and  God  with  awful  majesty;  and  tho' 
realizing  my  sinfulness,  to  tears,  I  was  not  afraid,  but  could,  did, 
look  up  even  into  the  face  of  my  Father,  because  my  Elder  Brother 
was  there.  And  under  such  sacred  influences,  think  you,  I  forgot 
those  I  love,  esiDecially  those  who  shall  for  me  here  be  always  as- 
sociated with  Holmanville?  I  can  think  of  no  other  way  but  the 
faithful  coming  to  the  door  of  the  ponies  and  the  carryall ;  of  the  Pas- 
tor's good  Ned.  Then,  we  are  all  together  in  the  choir.  The  faithful 
words,  from  oft  trembling  lips,  are  spoken  to  us  out  of  the  Word  of 
life  by  the  beloved  uncle.  .  .  .  And  all  those  faces.  .  .  . 
came  before  me  as  I  stood  alone,  looking  westward.     .     .     . 

"P.  S.  Word  has  just  reached  me,  of  the  safe  arrival  of  my  hus- 
band at  his  new  Station,  where  he  yesterday  spoke  of  our  Saviour  to 
many  who  had  never  heard  the  Name  before,  and  still  more  who  had 
never  heard  it  but  once,  and  that  by  himself,  on  his  other  visit.  He 
will  be  away,  at  least  a  month,  building  a  hut  needed  for  shelter  and 
storage  before  he  commences  upon  the  house  I  will  go  to." 


94  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

From  the  Diary:  "Wed'y,  Mar.  15th.  Still  rainy;  but,  we  sent 
the  mail.  Thanks;  that  it  has  started  in  time,  and  that  I  could  write 
as  many  as  I  did,  eighteen. 

"Tuesday,  Mar.  21st.  Have  been  writing  to  the  husband;  and, 
during  the  day,  have  been  gathering  for  the  box  to  send  him.  The 
'Diary'  is  finished." 

Writing  to  me  on  that  same  date,  Mrs.  Nassau  speaks  of  her 
growing  interest  in  negroes,  whose  faces  at  first  had  been  repulsive 
to  her:  "I  remember  you  spoke  of  the  special  interest  that  grew  upon 
the  missionary,  for  his  pupils.  I  am  surprised,  almost,  at  my  own 
interest  in  many  of  these  boys  (tho'  I  have  always  taken  my  pupils  in 
an  especial  manner  to  myself)  yet,  one  might  suppose  that  these 
black  faces  would  not  be  as  interesting."  [I  had  used  up  my  last 
blank  book  for  daily  entries.  Mrs.  Nassau  skillfully  bound  in  green 
silk  an  ordinary  writing-pad  for  me  as  a  diary.  (Other  of  my  cloth- 
covered  blank-books  are  eaten  by  moth  and  ant  and  roach ;  this  silk 
is  still,  to-day,  in  good  preservation.)  For  a  "dedication"  to  it,  she 
wrote  the  lines  of  Bryant,  quoted  above,  and  the  following  loving 
note,  on  March  22d:  "My  precious  Husband:  I  just  tho't  I  would 
give  you  something  more  to  read,  so  put  this  in.  Have  no  more 
news  just  now  to  write,  as  it  was  all  put  in  the  other  letter.  This  is 
only  a  presentation  of  the  'Diary'  to  the  Ogowe  River  Pioneer  mis- 
sionary. Again  hoping  that  the  heart-aches  to  be  recorded  may  be 
few,  and  that  the  successes  may  be  many,  and,  the  peace  always  pres- 
ent and  exceeding  dee^o,  your  loving  wife,  Mary  B."  And  on  April 
1st  Mrs.  Nassau,  herself,  without  a  blank-book  for  her  own  needs, 
began  to  use  the  vacant  pages  of  her  Album  of  Quotations,  begun  at 
Freehold,  May  14th,  1867.] 

"Sat'y  evening,  April  1st,  1882.  With  tenderness,  I  take  up 
this  book  of  precious  School-day  memories,  not  liking  to  put  its  pages 
to  common  use.  Again,  I  do  like  to  link  the  pleasant  days  of  the 
past  with  those  of  the  i)i'esent.  I  find  here  reminiscences  of  the 
unformed  school-girl,  of  the  restless  maiden,  of  the  heavily-laden 
teacher,  and  of  the  embrj^o  missionary.  And,  now,  I  am  writing  (in 
the  midst  of  mosquitoes)  as  the  wife  of  Rev.  R.  H.  Nassau,  M.  D.,  in 
a  bamboo  house  on  the  shore  of  the  Ogowe  River,  W.  A.  Am  sur- 
rounded by  black  and  comparative!}''  strange  faces;  yet,  very  pleas- 
ant are  they  to  me.  My  husband  is  70  miles  away,  working,  alone, 
and  in  the  midst  of  great  discouragements,  to  establish  a  now  Station. 
Mbora,  unknown  a  few  months  ago,  has  been  with  me,  and  i.s  much 


1SS2,    AT   KAXGWE.  95 

tried  because  I  will  not  give  him  a  subject  for  a  written  exercise. 
Awora  asked  for  help  in  the  kitchen.  I  put  him  off,  expecting  to  talk 
with  him  about  it;  but  did  not.  Mbigino  asked  to  go  to  his  village; 
I  did  not  let  him.  At  first,  he  was  a  little  glum,  but  has  done  well 
since.  Mbora  left  with  me  some  cloth  for  jackets  or  shirts,  as  I  had 
spoken  of  his  flannel  one  with  dislike.  I  promised  to  cut  them;  but, 
the  rest  must  wait  till  the  husband  comes.  Iguwi,  Onivi,  and  lyanjo 
went  to  Mrs.  Reading's.  While  together  only  yesterday,  two  notes 
each  have  been  exchanged.  Thanks;  for  the  quietness  and  obedi- 
ence of  the  servants." 

[There  lies  before  me  a  bundle  of  little  notes  by  Mrs.  Reading, 
written  at  least  one  a  day  during  the  months  spent  by  Mrs.  Nassau 
in  1882  on  Kangwe  Hill;  and  many  others,  letters  that  followed  her 
to  Talaguga  during  parts  of  1882  and  1883.]  I  returned  from  Tala- 
guga  on  Saturday,  April  Sth,  for  only  a  week's  stay,  to  get  new  work- 
men and  supplies. 

Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  to  her  cousin,  Miss  Hattie  Todd:^ 

"Kangwe,  April  8th,  1882:  Yours  of  dates  Jan.  3d  and  Jan.  15th, 
came  to  me  yesterday  evening.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading  were  here  on 
a  little  visit.  We  exchange  visits  every  week.  The  mail  was  brought 
by  two  former  pupils ;  we  were,  of  course,  much  excited  thereby.  It 
was  the  largest  mail  yet  received,  bringing  me   14  letters. 

"I  have  not  missed  but  one  opportunity  of  sending  you  a  letter. 
That  was  the  time  I  sent  such  a  long  one  to  Mrs.  Parker.  So,  again, 
I  send  this,  which,  with  the  husband's,  will  make  a  long  one.  Be- 
cause you  do  not  hear  from  me,  is  not  because  I  do  not  write  oftener, 
but  because  there  are  no  mails  by  which  to  send.  By  the  last  mail,  I 
sent  to  you  and  20  others.     So,  you  see,  I  try  to  satisfy  my  friends. 

"It  is  not  for  their  sakes  I  do  it  alone,  by  any  means.  I  have  a 
very  strong  selfish  design  in  the  matter,  as  I  want  to  hear  from  them 
more  than  they  wish  to  hear  from  me ;  only,  I  want  you  to  know  how 
diligent  I  have  been. 

"It  seems  strange  to  hear  you  speak  of  Winter.  There  is  not 
any  season  of  special  interest  that  I  do  not. think  of  home-friends, 
and  of  how  I  used  to  meet  with  them.  When  you  speak  of  Mother,  of 
her  need  of  care,  of  her  evident  growing  weakness,  the  distance  seems 
the  longest.  .  .  .  My  heart  aches  when  I  think  of  her,  and  know 
how  much  she  needs  mA^  care.  I  know  she  will  receive  from  you  the 
tenderest;  only,  I  wish  I  could  share  with  you.  .  .  .  There  are 
dark  days  for  me  too,  tho'  not  like  yours;  but,  I  can  trul}'  say  I  have 
suffered  from  sorrow  since  leaving  America,  more  than  ever  before. 


96  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

It  has  made  me  more  susceptible  to  pain  as  well  as  joy.  But,  be  sure, 
I  do  not  regret  my  coming,  except  on  Mother's  account.  I  do  not 
anticipate  a  speedy  return  either,  if  God  gives  health.  I  want  to 
carry  home  accounts  of  work  done ;  and,  to  accomplish  much,  we  must 
stay  long.  Those  boys!  Wish  I  could  see  them!  [her  two  little 
nephews].  .  .  .  Every  Sabbath  evening,  as  we  begin  our  Prayer- 
meeting,  I  think  of  you  five  hours  earlier,  as  about  beginning  after- 
noon Services.  Our  Prayer-Meeting  is  held  in  an  unfinished  bamboo 
room.  The  seats  are  boards  on  boxes.  The  audience,  black  faces 
entirely,  save  Mr.  Robinson's  and  self.  .  .  .  Just  here,  I  heard 
some  disturbance,  and  several  of  my  boys  came  to  the  door.  I 
looked  up,  and  from  their  faces  knew  something  was  up.  'E  bia!' 
they  said;  then,  'Dr.  Nassau!'  which  meant,  'he  comes!'  So,  I,  of 
course,  rushed  down  hill  to  meet  him.  Have  just  returned;  am 
very  warm,  very  tired,  and  very  happy.  The  husband  has  had  a  very 
trying  time;  living  in  a  true  hut,  exposed  to  rains,  and  exceedingly 
tried  by  his  crew  (of  which,  one  a  mute,  and,  an  old  man),  all  of  whom 
were  dissatisfied  because  they  had  no  meat." 

On  April  15th  I  returned  to  Talaguga  for  a  ten  weeks'  absence. 
While  I  was  at  Kangwe,  arrived  Mrs.  Nassau's  organ.  Of  that  joy  she 
wrote  to  Mrs.  Parker  under  date  of  about  April  23d:  "On  the  banks 
of  the  river  Ogowe,  in  that  part  of  West  Africa  made  especially  known 
to  Americans  by  the  graphic  work  of  DuChaillu;  on  that  river, 
towards  which  the  French  nation  is  turning  with  hands  greedy  to 
seize  and  appropriate  (spelled  by  them  I'Ogoue)  there  recently  oc- 
curred an  event  of  such  intense  interest  to  a  few  at  least,  that  we  ven- 
ture to  give  to  the  distant  friends  of  America  a  share  in  the  pleasure 
then  enjoyed.  But,  particularly  would  we  desire  to  make  known  our 
gratitude  to  those  who  were  instrumental  in  giving  this  great  joy. 
More  than  eight  months  ago,  there  was  conceived  in  the  minds  of  a  few 
generous  christian  ladies  assembled  at  Asbury  Park,  a  desire  to  put 
in  tangible  form  their  interest  in  and  regard  for  a  friend  soon  to  leave 
for  Mission-work  in  Africa.  The  desire  grew  to  a  purpose  so  strong 
that  it  drew  generous  gifts  from  many  of  the  Presbyterian  churches 
of  Freehold,  Jamesburg,  Burlington,  Hightstown  and  others.  Some 
of  their  number  were  appointed  to  select  the  proposed  gift;  and, 
with  a  wisdom  excelled  only  by  their  generosity,  these  friends  made 
choice  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  the  most  reliable  house  of  one  of  our 
largest  cities. 

"Carefully  'it'  was  packed  and  put  in  hold  of  a  sailing  vessel 
bound  for  the  African  tropics.  After  the  lapse  of  five  months,  the 
gift  arrived  at  the  French  domain,  and  was  put  on  Africa's  shore  at 


18S2,    AT    KAXGWE.  97 

Libreville.  Lying  there  for  two  months  or  more,  through  the  kind- 
ness of  a  German  trader,  it  was  put  on  board  a  httle  river-steamer 
'Mpongwe.' 

"For  75  miles,  after  leaving  the  Gaboon  estuary,  the  steamer 
skirted  the  ocean  beach,  then  turned  into  one  of  the  many  mouths  of 
the  Ogowe.  Cautiously  following  the  channel,  in  and  out  among  the 
innumerable  low  green  islands,  in  the  shade  of  the  deadly  mangrove- 
swamps,  and  almost  within  reach  of  its  curiously  interlaced  roots 
and  long  hanging  tendrils ;  amidst  sounds  from  the  screeching  parrots, 
or  the  barking  chimpanzee,  or  the  loud  jabbering  monkey;  frighten- 
ing into  less-frequented  waters  the  snorting  hippo;  startling  the 
beautiful  gazelle;  bringing  to  the  shores  the  wondering  native;  in 
the  midst  of  life  in  air,  on  land,  and  in  the  waters,  that  is  still  strange, 
and,  if  known,  would  give  great  delight  to  the  scientist,  our  little 
steamer,  with  its  precious  load,  came  to  higher  and  rriore  healthful 
regions,  and  was  relieved  of  its  burden  at  the  Lambarene  German 
Trading-house.  One  of  its  least,  tho'  most  important  burden,  was 
the  mail.  That  portion  belonging  to  the  missionaries,  was  given  to  a 
native  boy,  who  paddling  a  distance  of  a  mile,  bro't  it  to  the  eager 
hands  of  the  Mission  at  Kangwe.  With  the  mail  came  also  the  word 
that  the  organ  had  come.  What  a  thrill  of  joy  that  gave  to  the  par- 
ties interested!  This  was  Sat'y  evening,  April  8th,  and  too  late  for 
the  doing  of  anything  that  week  towards  bringing  it  to  the  mission- 
house. 

"Early  ]\Ionday,  before  the  morning-meal,  the  husband  started 
for  the  precious  freight,  in  a  six-oared  boat,  the  'Nellie-Howard.' 
Found  in  the  German  store-house,  'it 'was  carefully  taken  therefrom, 
and  put  across  the  gunwales  of  the  boat.  Barely  escaping  being 
crushed  between  the  wharf  and  the  steamer  just  then  api^roaching, 
he  pushed  off  for  the  present  home  and  last  stopping-place  (for  a 
time  at  least)  of  the  organ.  Finally,  after  a  ride  of  a  mile,  the  boat 
touched  the  Kangwe  landing.  But,  the  box  was  heavy,  the  workers 
young  and  awkward.  After  long,  tedious,  and  hazardous  efforts, 
8  or  10  young  men  are  seen  coming  over  the  brow  of  the  Hill,  carry- 
ing the  box  fastened  by  the  native  rattan  'bush-rope'  to  two  poles. 
These  poles  rested  on  the  shoulders  of  the  men,  while  the  heavy  box 
swung  to  and  fro;  and  several  times,  had  it  not  been  for  timely  help, 
would  have  rolled  them  off  the  path  down  the  steep  hill.  With  a 
long-drawn  sigh  of  relief,  it  was  finally  placed  on  the  porch  of  the 
house.  From  there,  it  could  go  no  further,  until  divested  of  its 
carefully  prepared  outer  covering.  Carefully  the  screws  were  drawn; 
and,  as  the  first  board  was  ready  to  be  taken  off,  there  was  a  call 
given  for  the  recipient,  that  she  might  have  the  first  glimpse  of  the 


98  THE    PATH    .SHE    TROD. 

contents.  Seldom  has  a  more  enjoyable  sight  been  presented.  Hast- 
ily and  eagerly  the  remaining  front  was  removed;  and  a  careful 
examination  was  made,  proving  every  part  to  be  in  most  perfect 
order.  Too  eager  to  wait  for  its  final  removal  to  the  missionary's 
room,  still  partly  within  the  packing-box  on  the  open  porch,  with 
wondering  natives  around,  the  organ  was  opened,  and  the  jDedals  were 
moved.  Not  a  sound  was  heard,  showing  that  neither  dust  nor  damp 
had  thus  far  affected  the  delicate  reeds.  Calling  for  the  associate 
missionary,  Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson,  we,  who  had  received  from  those 
dear  absent  friends  of  Monmouth  Presbytery,  at  the  hands  of  our 
beloved  President,  Mrs.  Parker,  in  the  parlor  of  our  dear  Alma  Mater, 
this  beautiful  gift,  now  stood  around  it;  and,  under  the  tropic  skies, 
the  first  notes  that  sound  on  our  forest  wilds  were  of  praise  to  Him 
who  had  thus  blessed  our  lives  by  making  us  know  that  the  wide 
ocean  and  thousands  of  miles  could  not  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
friends.  For,  their  voices  in  gift  united  with  ours  as  we  sang  the 
first  notes.  Do  you  wonder  that  lips  formed  the  word  of  our  grand 
doxology?  And,  do  you  doubt  that  our  hearts  overflowed  with 
grateful  love  to  Him  who  thus  permitted  us  to  unite  the  home  and  the 
loved  ones  there  with  the  new?  Never  were  sweeter  tones  heard  than 
responded  to  our  touch.  But,  a  minor  strain  ran  thro'  all,  the  lan- 
guage of  the  heart-pain;  tho'  we  heard  the  sound  of  our  friends' 
expressed  love,  we  missed  their  bodily  presence.  Aye!  more;  the 
dear  voice  that  had  given  to  us  our  farewell  'God-speed'  word, 
freighted  we  believe  with  double  blessings,  was  hushed  even  to  his 
loved  ones  in  far-off  Freehold.  But  not  hushed  to  his  loved  ones  and 
ours  in  Heaven.  It  almost  seemed  that  Heaven  was  even  nearer 
than  Freehold ;  and  we  were  uniting  our  voices  with  those  over  there, 
in  loving  grateful  praise  to  Him  'of  whom  the  whole  family  in  Heaveil 
and  earth  is  named.' 

"Our  frequent  evening  hymn  is  grand  old  Tallis:  and  never  is 
it  sung  without  remembering  the  deep  mellow  bass  of  that  beloved 
teacher,  as  it  sounded  so  richly  above  our  soprano.  'Are  they  not 
all  ministering  spirits?'  Aye!  if  God  so  willed  that  the  beloved 
Teacher  should  hear  our  voices,  I  knew  that  he  also  saw  us  now." 
[That  organ  is  still  in  use,  in  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Nassau's  niece,  Miss 
Mary  B.  Foster,  of  Bay  Head,  N.  J.] 

During  my  absence  at  Talaguga,  Mrs.  Nassau  had  company  at  her 
table,  Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson.  In  her  house-keeping  she  had  an 
unusual  amount  of  discomfort  from  the  heedlessness,  and  sometimes 
unkindness,  of  the  boys  and  girls  used  as  her  household  servants. 

All  new  missionaries  are  subjected  to  impertinence  by  young 
native  personal  employes,  the  latter  presuming  on  the  missionary's 


1882,    AT    RANG  WE.  99 

ignorance  of  their  language.  Mrs.  Nassau  was  in  a  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing situation,  for  I  was  not  there  to  protect  her  in  the  house.  She 
taught  these  same  emijloyes  and  others  in  the  school,  where,  though 
no  authority  had  been  accorded  her,  Mr.  Robinson  always  sustained 
her.  But,  though  she  had  necessarily  to  deal  with  some  of  the  Sta- 
tion employes,  they  were  not  under  her  control.  These  were  limita- 
tions in  her  official  situation  that  often  were  trying.  Her  chief 
earthly  comfort  was  the  daily  visit  or  note  to  or  from  Mrs.  Reading, 
and  the  reception  of  my  letters.  I  was  able  to  write  frequently. 
For,  as  to  me,  on  the  very  river  bank,  all  passing  canoes,  at  my  call, 
would  stop  and  take  a  letter  from  me.  But,  though  canoes  were  also 
constantly  coming  up  river,  as  to  her,  on  Kangwe  hill-top,  it  was  not 
often  that  she  could  be  apprised  of  a  possible  opportunity. 

Though  I  had  only  the  hut  at  Talaguga,  in  which  I  was  living 
while  having  logs  cut  and  squared  and  prepared  for  a  little  cottage  for 
her,  I  had  promised  that  she  should  come  and  share  my  camp  life  as 
soon  as  the  rainy  season  (March  to  May)  had  definitely  closed,  and 
the  long  cool,  dry  season  (June  to  September)  should  make  it  safe  for 
her  to  come.  She  counted  the  days  until  she  should  escape  from  the 
uncomfortable  position  at  Kangwe. 

"Thursday,  June  1st.  Went  to  Andgnde,  to  take  dinner.  Mr. 
Reading  had  been  to  John  Ermy's  [the  "Island"  trading-house  of  an 
American  mulatto,  eighteen  miles  Uf^  river].  Returned  at  12  o'clock. 
Mr.  R-g  and  Mr.  R-n  had  discussion  on  Infant  Baptism,  Will,  &c. 
Payday;  29  more  days.  Prayer;  God  help  me;  and  bring  thoughts, 
words,  and  acts  under  His  supreme  control. 

"Friday,  June  30th.  The  day,  for  which  I  have  waited  for  the 
past  11  weeks.  Hoped,  and  prepared  dinner  for  the  husband.  About 
10  A.  M.,  the  alarm  was  given,  and  we  tho't  we  would  see  them  soon; 
but  'twas  a  false  alarm;  it  was  Mr.  Reading  returning  from  the  Trad- 
ing-house. Dinner  was  over;  and  the  last  bell  rang  for  church.  Pre- 
paratory Service,  just  as  he  came.  Lord!  hear  my  prayers!  May 
I  fear  Thee.  May  I  trust  in  Thy  mercy,  that  thou  mayest  take 
pleasure  in  me." 


100  THE    PATH   SHE   TROD. 

CHAPTER   XII. 

July,   1882.     Camp-Life. 

I  ASSISTED  the  Presbyterial  Stated  Supply  of  the  First  Ogowe 
Church,  Rev.  W.  H.  Robinson,  at  the  Communion,  on  the  Sabbath, 
July  2d,  1882. 

And  on  Friday,  July  7th,  with  my  boat,  "Nellie-Howard,"  and 
a  native  craft,  I  started  up-river,  Mrs.  Nassau  to  be  with  me  for  two 
or  three  months.  We  arrived  at  our  station  on  July  11th.  Mrs. 
Nassau  was  the  first  white  woman  in  that  region.  In  our  crew  were 
several  Kroo-men,  hired  only  for  the  occasion,  for  they  prefer  service 
only  on  the  coast  and  on  ocean  steamers.  The  pursers  of  the  steamers, 
in  enrolling  them,  rarely  understand  their  native  names,  and  have 
the  habit  of  intentionally  giving  them  ridiculous  names,  which  the 
men  innocently  accept,  apparently  with  pride,  in  their  desire  to  own 
anything  that  is  "English"  (or,  as  they  say  it,  "Ngesh"). 

Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  of  the  beginning  of  that  journey: — 

"The  wearying  preparations  for  the  boat  journey  and  camp-life 
were  finished.  The  tins  of  meat  and  vegetables  had  been  packed, 
dried  bread  prepared,  the  few  changes  of  raiment  in  readiness,  the 
cooking  utensils  (few  in  number)  in  their  box,  our  rolls  of  bedding, 
and  the  tent  securely  tied,  and  we  awaited  the  hour  for  starting. 
Friday  morning  dawned  upon  the  party  of  expectant  travelers,  at 
Kangwe.  Though  preparations  seemed  meager,  the  number  of 
boxes,  when  placed  together,  ajopeared  large  to  the  men  and  boys 
who  were  to  carry  them  down  the  Hill  to  the  boat,  'Nellie-Howard' 
which  was  to  carry  us  to  our  destination.  The  strong  Kroo-men 
carry  down  the  burdens;  and,  though  much  effort  is  made  to  get 
off  in  season,  'tis  9  o'clock  when  the  two  missionaries  leave  the  house. 
Descending  by  the  path  cut  in  the  hill-sido,  we  wind  our  way  from 
side  to  side  downward  to  our  landing  at  the  foot  of  the  Hill.  The 
task  of  stowing  away  boxes  and  bundles,  that  both  missionaries  and 
crew  may  have  room,  being  not  yet  over,  I  walked  a  short  distance 
through  the  forest,  to  And6nde,  the  associate  missionary's  house, 
soon  followed  by  the  well-laden  boat. 

"At  this  landing  is  a  native  'kongongo,'  filled  with  'farinya,' 
which  is  to  be  the  food  for  the  workmen  of  Talaguga.  Tlio  kongongo 
(dug  out  of  a  single  tree)  differs  from  a  boat,  in  having  no  keel;  and 
from  a  canoe,  in  having  a  rudder.     This  one  is  35  ft.  long,  3  ft.  wide. 


JULY,    1882.       CAMP-LIFE.  101 

2  ft.  deep,  3  inch  thick  gunwales,  bottom  5  inches  thick  [propelled 
by  paddles].  The  '  Nellie-Howard '  is  30  ft.  long,  5  ft.  in  width,  2  ft. 
in  depth,  very  light  thin  sides,  and  sharj)  bow.  The  canoe  is  40 
ft.  long,  2j  ft.  wide,  1  ft.  deep,  sides  3  inches  thick.  'Farinya'  is 
the  entire  tubers  of  the  cassava-plant,  or,  S.  American  name,  manioc 
(mandioca;  jatropha  manihot)  raw  roots  with  their  husk,  coarsely 
grated,  no  other  preparation;  the  starch  grains  and  woody  fibres 
mixed;  the  pulpy  mass  washed  in  water.  This  dissolves  out  the 
poisonous  principle;  dried  in  the  sun;  broken  into  small  grains; 
looks  like  coarsely  ground  grits.  It  is  cooked  by  pouring  on  it  hot 
water,  swells  to  three  times  its  size.  If  roasted,  looks  and  smells 
like  roasted  bread.  Xgwgse  is  the  entire  tuber  boiled  and  sliced,  the 
rough  skin  being  first  taken  off.  The  kindness  of  our  missionary 
sister,  Mrs.  Reading,  will  not  let  us  leave  without  a  lunch.  So,  with 
refreshed  bodies  and  happy  crews,  I  bid  farewell  to  Kangwe  which 
has  been  the  home  for  the  last  six  months.  We  leave,  on  the  Hill, 
Mr.  Robinson,  who  must  now  not  only  take  upon  himself,  his  ordinary 
care  of  mission-work,  but  assume  as  well  the  superintendency  of  the 
housekeeper's  department.  And,  at  Andende,  leaving  the  only 
missionary  sister ;  and  neither  of  us  will  see  the  face  of  a  white  woman 
until  my  return  in  two  or  three  months.  The  '  Xellie-Howard '  shoots 
ahead  of  the  kongongo,  with  the  French  colors  flying  at  the  stern. 
Passengers:  the  missionary  and  wife  and  a  little  maid;  crew,  six 
Kroo-men.  'James'  takes  the  stroke-oar,  and,  anxious  to  'show 
off,'  he  leads  with  a  long  strong  stroke.  But,  their  strength  and  the 
resistance  of  the  current  is  too  much  for  the  oars.  Some  thing  or 
some  body  must  give  way.  Before  we  were  out  of  sight,  'Brass-pan, ' 
the  second  man,  suddenly  took  a  seat  backward,  leaving,  for  our 
meditation  uplifted  hands,  and  empty  seat.  'Brass-pan,'  a  figure 
for  Harpers  to  illustrate  awkwardness.  All  because  of  a  broken  oar. 
A  sharp  reprimand  from  the  master,  and  another  oar  started  us 
anew.  But,  the  Kroo-men  seemed  particularly  fond  of  that  one 
trying  style  of  rowing.  And  soon  we  have  from  Brass-pan  the  same 
display  repeated,  when  he  received  a  warning  which  made  him  more 
careful  during  the  rest  of  the  voyage.  'Baby,'  the  fourth  man,  was 
the  next  unfortunate  one;  and  there  being  no  more  extra  oars,  he 
remained  idle  until  the  rest  at  noon  gave  opportunity  for  repairing 
the  injuries  done.  The  third  man  is  called  'Jacob,'  the  musician  of 
the  party;  and  he  is  an  erect,  splendidly  formed  fellow.  'After- 
dinner,'  the  fifth,  is  the  mildest-faced,  and  one  who  might  be  expected 
to  get  into  trouble  because  of  his  gentleness  and  meditativeness  (?) 
There  remains  only  'Ca valla.'  Poor  'Ca valla!'  In  every  party 
there  must  be  the  weak  one,  the  butt  for  jokes,  the  shoulders  for 


102  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

petty  burdens.  He  does  continually  '  catch  crabs '  in  more  way  than 
one.  What  is  the  example  set  by  our  civilized,  christianized  boys? 
But,  this  is  a  digression.  We  took  a  diagonal  course  across  the 
river,  and  stopped  at  the  opposite  village,  to  ask  if  odika  can  be 
bought  [a  dark  cheese-like  mass  made  of  the  kernel  of  the  wild  mango, 
and  used  for  a  rich  meat  gravy].  There  come  to  the  shore,  to  watch  us, 
men,  women  and  children." 

[Mrs.  Nassau  was  a  great  curiosity  to  the  villages  lining. the  banks 
of  the  upper  river,  as  we  pursued  our  journey  for  three  days  (resting 
over  Sabbath  at  Belambila,  a  deserted  former  station).  She  enjoyed 
greatly  the  new  flowers,  ranges  of  hills,  wilder  forest,  enthusiastic 
receptions,  and  finally  reached  our  Talaguga  in  the  afternoon  of 
Tuesday,  the  11th.] 

"Arrive  at  Talaguga,  Brass-pan,  in  lifting  me  ashore,  mired.  I 
reached  dry  land  by  walking  a  log.  Came  to  the  '  hut '  [of  two  rooms]. 
Unload  goods.  Soon,  husband  comes  into  the  farther  room,  and 
prays  our  thanks,  and  for  grace  to  do  the  work  God  has  given  us. 
Put  up  tent.  Eat  on  a  box.  Frames  put  up,  to  store  our  boxes. 
'  Joktan '  and  Akambia  [the  two  men  I  had  left  in  charge  of  the  place] 
in  good  spirits,  and  surprised  to  see  us  so  soon." 

[Communication  with  us  from  Kangwe  was  infrequent  and  dif- 
ficult and  even  at  times  dangerous.  So  that  occasionally  we  were 
reduced  low  on  our  foreign  provisions.  The  crew  of  one  load  sent 
by  Mr.  Reading  turned  back  in  fear  of  tribal  wars.  He  then  bravely 
escorted  them  himself,  arriving,  much  to  our  relief,  on  September  4th.] 

When,  in  1881,  Miss  Foster  disbanded  her  Barnegat  School,  some 
of  her  favorite  pupils  went  to  the  "Ivy  Hall"  Female  Seminary  at' 
Bridgeton,  N.  J.,  under  the  (then)  care  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Reeves, 
and  there  joined  a  local  Girls'  Missionary  Band.  While  at  Talaguga, 
July  to  September,  Mrs.  Nassau  WTote  to  them  in  the  latter  part  of 
September:  "My  greeting  to  Mr.  and 'Mrs.  Reeves  and  the  teachers 
and  students  of  Ivy  Hall,  who  have  turned  their  thought  toward  the 
Mission-work  in  foreign  lands.  And,  these  greetings  to  all  are  none 
the  less  earnest  because  the  teacher's  love  goes  out  with  personal 
intensity  to  a  few  of  your  number;  the  rather,  is  my  special  regard 
for  you  as  a  Society  increased. 

"Word  has  reached  me  of  the  successful  Parlor  Concert,  and  of 
their  purpose  to  raise  a  certain  sum  for  the  advancement  of  Christ's 
Kingdom  in  foreign  lands;  thus  showing  their  faith  to  be  sincere  by 
these  practical  works.  As  a  missionary,  but  particularly,  as  a  christian 
teacher,  I  was  made  glad  by  this  news,  because  you  are  not  only  culti- 


JULY,    1882,       CAMP-LIFE.  103 

vating  the  mind,  but  the  heart,  as  well.  There  is  no  firmer  seal  to 
enduring  friendship,  no  stronger  incentive  to  earnest  study,  no  prin- 
ciple for  a  life's  work,  so  purifying,  so  elevating,  so  energizing,  as  that 
which  actuates  the  true  missionary  at  home  or  abroad,  love  for  God 
and  love  for  immortal  souls.  And,  it  is  a  love  that  takes  in  the  perish- 
ing of  all  lands,  and  appreciates  the  crying  need  of  all  people  for  the 
Words  of  eternal  life. 

"But,  as  you  have  turned  your  eyes,  with  special  interest  toward 
the  Dark  Continent,  I  will  try  to  open  up  to  you,  views  of  its  shadows, 
which,  in  but  a  few  places  of  this  great  expanse  of  country,  are  be- 
ginning to  lift,  before  the  light  of  the  Gospel  held  up  by  the  mission- 
aries scattered  principally  along  its  coasts  and  by  its  river  banks. 
These  rivers  are  natural  highways,  upon  which  the  traffickers  from 
all  lands  run  to  and  fro,  gathering  up  the  wealth  which  the  native, 
with  a  keen  scent  for  gain,  is  only  too  glad  to  bring  to  their  hands, 
from  the  vast  comparatively  unknown  Interior.  It  is  *  Greek  meeting 
Greek,'  in  the  exercise  of  bloated  covetousness ;  and  the  superior 
knowledge  of  the  white  trader  is  often  over-matched  by  the  cunning 
of  the  black.  The  growing  desire  of  the  black  man  for  civilized  j^rod- 
ucts,  which  makes  him  more  eager  for  and  exorbitant  in  his  demands, 
are  met  by  the  whetted  ingenuity  of  the  white,  to  make  from  nothing 
articles  that  bear  a  likeness  to  the  genuine  ones,  in  every  thing  except 
real  value  or  use.  For  instance:  in  the  purchase  of  ivory,  a  certain 
number  of  yards  of  cloth  are  required.  The  price  of  ivory  has  ad- 
vanced. With  like  rate,  the  c}uality  of  the  cloth  has  gone  down,  until 
it  appears  only  a  shadow  of  its  kind.  Also : — a  certain  kind  of  brass- 
pan,  used  as  an  article  of  currency,  once  of  substantial  make,  is  now 
so  thin  that  it  can  be  twisted  in  any  shape  by  very  weak  hands. 

"On  one  of  these  thoroughfares,  the  Ogowe  river,  which  before  it 
reaches  its  exit  in  the  ocean,  divides  itself  into  many  and  important 
branches,  but  which,  at  this  point  (Talaguga)  contracts  itself  in  very 
narrow  limits,  120  miles  direct  from  the  ocean,  or  200  miles  by  the 
course  of  the  river,  is  situated  the  advanced  out-post  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Mission.  And  there,  in  a  little  hut,  near  its  bank,  sits  the 
writer.  By  her  side  is  the  little  maiden,  to  whom  I  hope  to  introduce 
you  soon,  busily  sewing  upon  a  very  pretty  pink  calico  dress.  She 
has  the  thread,  needle,  thimble  of  civilized  life,  and  sews  with  re- 
markable neatness  and  precision.  On  the  hill-side  is  the  missionary 
busily  pushing  forward  the  building  of  the  little  house,  which,  for  the 
coming  two  years  at  least,  will  give  shelter  from  rain  and  sun.  He 
has  in  his  employ,  three  native  Fang,  belonging  to  the  dreaded  tribes 
of  Cannibals.  These  cannibals  doubtless  occupy  large  tracts  of  the 
inland  country,  and  are  pushing  themselves  westward  with  surprising 


104  THE    PATH    SHE   TKOD. 

rapidity,  the  former  occupants  of  these  regions  [the  Bakele  and  others] 
fleemg  in  terror  toward  the  sea-coast,  some  day  to  almost  entirely 
disappear,  as  has  been  the  fate  of  their  predecessors. 

"The  migratory  habits  of  the  Fang  are  not  conducive  to  the  success 
of  the  ]\Iissionary's  labors  among  them.  They  have  not  the  desire  for 
education  which  other  tribes  have  shown;  and,  thus  far,  are  entirely 
indifferent  to  the  Word  preached  to  them.  Their  one  interest  being 
to  attract  and  hold  the  white  traders,  for  their  own  aggrandisement. 

"Until  a  house  is  built,  a  regular  School  can  not  be  established. 
We  have,  as  servants  and  regular  workmen,  four  j^oung  men  from  the 
lower  river  tribe  (Galwa)  among  whom  the  missionary  has  labored 
for  more  than  six  years.  Last  week,  we  were  to  send  away  the  fifth, 
the  principal  one,  a  carpenter,  because  of  sickness,  he  desiring  to  go 
to  his  own  people.  All  of  these  have  been  pupils  of  the  School  at 
Kangwe,  and  are  civilized  in  dress  and  habits.  Two  are,  we  believe, 
sincere  christians;  a  third  has  expressed  a  desire,  which  his  deeds 
thus  far  have  proved  sincere,  to  leave  the  world  and  his  former  life, 
and  be  numbered  among  the  people  of  God.  The  maid  before  re- 
ferred to,  completes  the  household.  In  the  evening,  two  of  the  work- 
men come  to  me  to  recite.  In  the  afternoon,  our  house-servant 
recites  with  the  little  girl.  My  fifth  pupil  is  a  little  Fang  boy,  whose 
father  is  a  cannibal.  He  has  been  treated  for  a  very  sore  toe  for  the 
last  five  months.  This  brings  him  to  the  Mission ;  with  the  additional 
want  of  his  dinner,  he  is  generally  present  for  his  lesson  in  the  (to 
him)  very  obtuse  and  difficult  task  of  discriminating  between  ('pot- 
hook and  hanger ')  A  and  Z,  of  the  written  language,  which  is  entirely 
new  and  strange  to  him.  .  .  .  The  girl's  name  is  Onivi.  I  have 
never  seen  any  of  her  own  family;  but,  I  know  that  she  was  taken 
from  a  home  where  ignorance  and  superstition  of  Egyptian  darkness' 
reigns.  She  was  purchased  for  a  certain  sum  of  [dowry]  money  by 
a  young  man,  now  the  Elder  of  the  church  at  Kangwe,  and  placed 
by  him  in  the  Mission-school  some  four  years  ago.  She  is  now  about 
12  years  of  age,  and  is  the  wife-elect  of  her  purchaser.  She  is  as  quiet 
and  obedient  as  many  of  American  girls.  I  was  ready  to  say,  more 
so;  reads  very  well  in  Mpongwe  Scriptures,  and  is  pains-taking  in 
following  her  copies  which  are  written  for  her  on  her  little  slate.  We 
have  no  writing-books.  Simple  addition  has  been  mastered  by  her, 
as  well  as  the  Childs'  Catechism,  and  several  of  the  Psalms.  She  is 
of  medium  height,  and  would  appear  to  you  very  much  like  other 
negro  girls ;  but,  to  us,  who  are  accustomed  to  the  dark  skins,  they 
have  as  distinctive  features  as  the  white  people.  When  speaking 
with  animation,  a  dimple  plays  around  her  lips,  and  her  brown  eyes 
light  up  with  pleasing  effect,  and,  with  her  fellows,  as  quick  at  repartee 


JULY,    18S2.       CAMP-LIFE.  105 

and  active  in  movements,  unless  a  spirit  of  stubbornness,  sullenness, 
fastens  heavy  weights  to  her  otherwise  quick  footsteps.  I  wonder 
if  any  of  the  Society  of  1%^  Hall  have  ever  seen  the  effects  of  these 
weights  in  themselves  or  others? 

"I  have  already  spoken  of  her  dainty  sewing.  A  few  weeks 
ago,  she  made  application  for  admittance  to  the  Inquiry  Class,  which 
is  the  first  step  towards  a  public  profession  of  religion.  She  appears 
very  happy  in  her  mission-home,  with  no  desire  to  return  to  the  na- 
tive village;  and  also  is  more  than  satisfied  with  the  husband-elect, 
more  pleased  than  many  of  our  girls,  who,  after  being  in  the  mission- 
school  for  a  time,  often  select  a  lover  of  their  own,  cjuite  different 
from  the  one  who  has  paid  the  dowry,  and  legally  is  her  owner  and 
future  husband." 

On  Tuesday,  September  26th,  we  started  down  river,  making  a 
comfortable  three-days'  journey  to  Kangwe  for  the  quarterly 
Communion.  And,  as  the  "Former"  rainy  season  (October  to  De- 
cember) had  set  in,  and  the  little  cottage  at  Talaguga  was  not  yet  in 
a  state  to  receive  Mrs.  Nassau,  she  remained  on  Kangwe  Hill,  re- 
suming her  housekeeping  there,  the  while  I,  after  much  trouble  in 
obtaining  a  crew,  started  back  to  Talaguga  with  a  kongongo  and 
canoe  and  a  very  mixed  crew,  on  Friday,  October  13th,  for  another 
three  months'  absence. 

On  October  30th,  Mrs.  Nassau  reports  having  opened  and  enjoyed 
the  box  of  books,  clothing,  and  other  gifts  from  Jamesburg  and  other 
friends  in  Monmouth  Presbytery.  And  on  October  31st,  she  mailed 
over  forty  letters  of  acknowledgment. 

On  November  1st,  she  was  alone  on  Kangwe  Hill,  ^Ir.  Robinson 
having  gone  on  Mission  business  to  Gaboon,  with  the  intention  of 
returning  in  December,  in  order  that  the  Station  should  not  be  with- 
out a  male  missionary  when  Mr.  Reading  would  be  absent  at  January 
Mission  Meeting. 

I  had  found  native  employes  generally  respectful  and  obedient; 
and,  on  leaving  Mrs.  Nassau  at  Kangwe,  had  no  thought  that  she 
would  be  subjected  to  the  annoyances  which  came  to  her.  I  still 
believe  that  the  native  African  is  naturally  respectful.  But  some 
sinister  influences  had  been  at  work  at  Kangwe  between  my  de- 
parture in  1880  and  my  return  in  1882.  These  annoyances  I  see 
recorded  almost  daily  in  Mrs.  Nassau's  diaries,  with,  also,  daily  an 
ejaculated  prayer,  and  almost  daily  a  record  of  thanks.  But  her 
letters  of  cheer  to  me  at  Talaguga,  were  cheerful,  even  with  wit  and 
gentle  badinage  that  was  written  for  only  my  eye.  This  was  her 
remarkable  union  of  solemn  severity  in  her  views  of  duty  and  her 
sprightly  flow  of  humor  for  those  who  were  dearest  to  her. 


106  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

During  the  three  months'  separation,  I  had  opportunity,  every 
few  days,  of  writing  to  her.  Talaguga  had  become  a  haven  of  rest 
and  safety  for  trade  canoes  of  the  Galwa  and  other  tribes  plying 
between  Lambarene  and  the  interior.  They  found  it  a  safe  spot  at 
which  to  bivouac;  my  presence  was  a  protection  to  them  and  their 
goods;  my  boat-shed  a  comfortable  roof  under  which  to  rest;  my 
fires  a  convenience,  and,  for  favors  I  gave  them,  they  always  were 
more  than  willing  to  carry  letters,  stopping  on  my  hail,  and  even 
delaying  while  I  wrote,  to  take  any  note  I  had  ready.  With  Avhat 
little  gifts  I  gave  them,  and  what  I  promised  that  Mrs.  Nassau  would 
add,  I  was  perfectly  certain  that  my  letters  would  be  safely  carried 
and  promptly  delivered.  They  were.  And  they  were  longed  for  by 
Mrs.  Nassau.  I  will  not  open  the  sanctity  of  some  parts  of  her  letters 
to  tell  the  depths  of  her  longing.  And  this,  notwithstanding  the 
presence  and  protection  of  Mr.  Reading,  the  courtesy  of  INIr.  Rob- 
inson, and  the  sisterly,  almost  motherly,  love  of  her  dear  friend  Mrs. 
Reading.  But  from  her  end  of  the  line  there  was  difficulty.  The 
up-going  canoes  made  their  start  from  the  English  and  German 
trading  houses,  out  of  sight  on  the  other  side  of  the  island.  Those 
white  men  had  few  interests  outside  of  their  trade,  and  it  was  not 
expected  that  they  would  notify  the  mission  of  their  frequent  sending 
of  canoes  up-river.  When,  on  a  venture,  letters  were  sent  to  them 
they  would  probably  be  forwarded,  almost  invariably  by  the  English. 
But  the  German  sometimes  refused,  or  forgot,  even  after  promising. 
On  one  occasion  her  letters  were  thus  retained  deliberately,  not  out 
of  any  particular  spite  to  her,  but  because  of  the  Agent's  offended 
dignity,  the  package  having  been  handed,  not  to  himself,  but  to  a 
subordinate.  Not  until  my  wail  for  letters  came  back  to  her  did  she 
find  out  that  the  longed-for  missives  that  her  love  had  sent  had 
been  lying  for  days  only  a  mile  distant  from  her! 

At  that  very  same  time,  I  was  giving  shelter  in  my  little  hut, 
even  resigning  my  bed  to  him,  to  one  of  that  same  German's  clerks, 
he  having  stopped,  sick,  and  his  crew  almost  in  mutiny.  I  used  my 
influence  in  obtaining  him  a  temporary  location  with  my  Fang  chief, 
Nyare.  In  my  diary  of  November  15th  I  note:  "Nyare  could  find 
plantains  for  Mr.  B.,  but  not  for  me.  Do  not  know  what  will  be 
the  up-shot  of  a  trader  establishing  so  near  to  me.  How  things 
develop!  Only  eight  months  ago,  I  came  here,  and  was  on  the  verge; 
now,  two  white  men  are  ahead  of  me  u])-river,  and  a  third  near  mc!" 

I  do  not  know  what  were  the  "ambitions"  referred  to  in  Mrs. 
Nassau's  diary  of  November  26th,  after  she  had  been  reading,  in  a 
missionary  monthly,  letters  of  Miss  Cole,  of  Siam,  Mrs.  Winn,  of 
Japan,  Miss  Tiffany,  of  Ghiua,  Dr.  Jessup,  of  Syria,  and  "Miss  Noyes, 


JULY,    1882.       CAMP-LIFE.  107 

of  Canton  and  her  charge  of  more  than  200  women,  made  me  long  to 
work  among  women  here.  The  appeal  for  medical  missionaries 
stirred  up  old  ambitions  which  could  not  have  been  fulfilled;  but, 
may  God  make  willing  those  who  have  the  ability!" 

Time  drawing  toward  the  close  of  her  first  foreign  missionary 
year,  she  records,  on  November  30th:  "Thanks;  for  the  untold 
blessings  of  the  year;  for  health  of  body  preserved;  for  some  growth 
at  least  in  grace;  for  the  Husband's  success  at  his  Station;  for  Ma 
Reading's  love;  for  the  love  of  friends  at  home;  for  Mr.  Robinson's 
friendship;  for  the  devotion  of  the  Husband;  for  the  privilege  to  be 
in  Africa;  for  the  Savior,  His  words.  His  life,  His  death.  His  resur- 
rection. His  ascension,  His  intercession." 

With  all  her  many  household  distractions,  learning  a  new  language, 
&c.,  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  largely.  Her  memorandum  book  has  lists 
of  letters  "Received"  and  "Sent."  Of  letters  and  notes  sent,  there 
is  a  list  of  255  during  1882;  of  these,  183  were  mailed  letters;  52 
to  fellow-missionaries,  and  131  to  relatives,  friends,  and  other  per- 
sons in  the  United  States. 

Having  completed  the  cottage  on  the  Talaguga  hill-side,  I  re- 
turned to  Kangwe  on  December  26th.  J\Ir.  Reading  had  already 
gone  by  river  steamer  to  Libreville,  Gaboon.  I  assisted  Mr.  Robin- 
son in  the  preparatory  and  Communion  Services  of  December  29-31. 
And,  on  Monday,  January  1st,  1883,  in  my  boat  "Nellie-Howard" 
(fitted  only  for  river  travel)  went  to  the  Annual  Mission  and  Presby- 
tery Meeting  at  Baraka,  Libreville,  arriving  there  on  Friday,  January 
5th.  Mrs.  Nassau  had  decided  not  to  go  with  me;  thought  she  better 
stay  with  Mrs.  R.  and  get  ready  for  our  removal  to  Talaguga.  For 
these  and  other  reasons  she  gave  up  the  prospect  of  seeing  other  fel- 
low-missionaries;  e.  g.,  crowding  the  hospitality  at  Baraka;  the 
probably  uncomfortable  return  by  the  small  river  steamers;  work 
to  be  done  at  Kangwe  in  teaching,  &c. 

Of  those  days,  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote,  in  a  letter  to  her  cousin.  Miss 
Hattie  Todd:  "Kangwe,  Jan.  5th.  .  .  .  your  words  about  those 
anniversary  days  are  true;  and  I  too  lived  them  over  again.  But, 
between  those  days  and  the  present  time,  have  been  long,  weary, 
lonely  days  of  waiting  and  working,  while  the  Husband  was  still  more 
lonely  in  his  work  at  Talaguga.  He  stayed  as  long  as  he  possibly 
could,  and  has  nearly  finished  the  house,  which,  though  small,  will 
have  a  floor.  He  came  down  to  Kangwe,  Dec.  26th;  and,  New  Year's 
day,  started  for  Gaboon  in  his  little  boat,  'Nellie-Howard.'  His 
ride  will  be  130  miles  on  the  river,  then  75  miles  on  the  sea.  One, 
perhaps  two  nights,  he  will  spend  on  the  ocean.  He  will  use  the  sail 
on  the  sea,  of  course.     But,  he  is  always  most  terribly  sea-sick  on  the 


108  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

water;  even  the  quiet  river  sometimes  brings  nausea;  and  you  can 
hardly  imagine  the  distress  he  suffers  on  the  ocean.  This  is  Friday 
night,  and  I  hope  he  is  by  this  time  safe  at  Libreville.  I  wished  very 
much  to  go  down  to  Gaboon  by  one  of  the  traders'  steamers;  but, 
decided  that  I  better  '  stay  by  the  stuff '  at  Kangwe. 

"  I  have  seen  one  (and  only  one)  lady,  one  white-faced  woman,  in 
the  last  year.  ...  I  told,  in  a  letter  to  little  Julius,  of  the  nar- 
row escape  from  drowning  that  Mr.  Robinson  had.  We  were  thank- 
ful indeed  for  his  final  safety.  He  is,  and  has  been,  all  the  year  past, 
very  kind  and  gentlemanly.  ...  I  am  very  glad  you  met  Mrs. 
Kneass.  And  I  enjoyed  very  ynuch  your  description  of  Mary  Dashiell's 
wedding.  I  am  very  glad  to  know  of  Mr.  Cranmer's  election  [Xew 
Jersey  State  Senator  G.  T.  Cranmer].  ...  I  never  had  a  gentle- 
man friend  whom  I  tho't  more  of  than  Mr.  C.  Remember  me  to  him, 
and  to  Mr.  Harrison  [of  Lakewood]  when  you  see  them.  And  to  all 
the  Holmanville  friends,  my  love,  especially  to  uncle  Todd.  .  .  . 
I  see  letters  from  Frank  [Rev.  Frank  M.  Todd]  in  the  Presbyterian 
Journal,  and  from  Uncle  Todd  too;  all  of  which  I  enjoy  very 
much. 

"You  may  be  sure  I  think  of  you  all,  those  days,  which  were 
once  spent  so  happily  with  you  and  the  other  home-friends.  I  do 
not  mean  to  say  I  am  not  happy  here;  but;  I  do  miss  those  friends 
very  much. 

"I  have  pretty  heavy  trials,  I  think,  here;  but,  I  know  you  have 
equally  heavy,  and  perhaps  greater  ones  in  America.  I  can  only 
pray  for  you,  as  you  do  for  me.  But,  these  trials  surely  are  not  in 
vain.  They  bring  nearer  the  Savior,  and  show  us  our  sins,  and  aid 
in  purifying  us  from  those  sins.  After  all,  the  end  of  life,  to  fit  us 
to  glorify  and  enjoy  God,  is  only  furthered  by  what  we  are  sometirhes 
tempted  to  complain  of.  I  mean  to  write  a  letter  for  the  Society  very 
soon,  unless  the  trials  and  full  working  time  of  the  moving  [to  Tala- 
guga]  days  prevent.  .  .  .  Christmas  I  spent  with  Mrs.  Reading. 
Her  little  Lizzie  received  many  presents  from  her  friends  in  America." 

At  Libreville,  there  had  recently  arrived  from  the  United  States, 
Rev,  A.  C.  Good,  and  Miss  Harding  and  her  mother,  new  missionaries; 
and  my  sister  Miss  I.  A.  Nassau,  and  Miss  L.  B.  Walker,  returning  from 
furlough.  Meetings  began  on  January  8th,  and  closed  on  January 
16th.  Miss  Nassau  and  Miss  Harding  were  appointed  to  Kangwe 
Hill.  Miss  Harding  was  of  negro  extraction,  but  with  so  slight  an 
admixture  that  she  was  regarded  as  an  "European."  At  her  own 
expense,  she  had  brought  her  mother  from  the  United  States,  who 
was  therefore  not  on  the  missionary  list. 


JULY,    1882.       CAMP-LIFE.  109 

I  left  Libreville  on  January  18th,  and  was  again  in  Kangwe  on 
January  25th. 

Mrs.  Nassau's  various  works  on  the  Hill  were  divided  between 
Miss  Nassau  and  Miss  Harding.  And  on  February  7th,  Mrs.  Nassau 
and  I  definitely  left  Kangwe  on  the  journey  to  our  own  Talaguga 
Station. 


110  THE    PATH   SHE    TROD. 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

1883,  At   Talaguga. 

Of  that  journey,  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote,  in  the  end  of  February,  an 
account  to  Mrs.  Parker,  for  the  Monmouth  Presbytery,  W.  F.  M.  S. : — 

"The  last  two  months  have  been  filled  with  the  excitements 
attendant  on  departures  and  arrivals;  with  all  the  labor,  care,  and 
vexations  which  preparations  for  boat-journeys,  packing  and  un- 
packing, always  bring.  ...  At  Kangwe,  we  welcomed  Miss 
Harding,  who,  with  earnest  zeal,  enters  upon  her  work  of  establishing 
a  Girls  School;  and  also  Miss  Bella  Nassau,  who,  for  this  year,  takes 
for  her  home  the  house  we  leave  there,  with  all  her  renewed  strength, 
and  her  well-tried  devotion  to  this  her  life-work.  From  the  first 
village  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ogowe  to  Belambila  (the  Bible  reading 
out-station  beyond  Kangwe)  the  news  that  'Miss  Bella'  was  return- 
ing to  this  river  was  received  with  most  ardent  enthusiasm,  which 
showed  the  hold  the  faithful  missionary  had  secured  upon  the  hearts 
of  the  people.  Wed'y  morning,  February  7th,  Miss  Bella,  from  the 
home  on  the  Hill,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading  and  Mr.  Robinson,  from 
the  Andgnde  waterside,  waved  their  farewells  to  Dr.  Nassau's  com- 
pany, as  he,  with  his  fleet  of  5  boats  and  canoes  and  40  men  and  boys, 
pushed  off,  on  their  upward  journey  to  Talaguga.  The  'Nellie- 
Howard'  carried  the  Doctor  and  wife,  a  crew  of  6  young  men  (with 
oars),  2  food-boxes,  1  box  of  goods  for  purchasing  native  provisions 
on  the  way,  1  of  medicines,  3  of  native  farinya,  1  of  soap,  4  containing 
luggage  of  crew,  1  of  dried  cod-fish,  1  of  hardware,  1  of  clothing,  1 
jug  of  spring  water,  1  demijohn  of  vinegar,  2  casks  of  bedding,  1 
chair,  wraps,  water-proofs,  &c.,  &c.,  1  chicken,  and  1  dog;  the  last 
not  for  food !  Each  craft  had  a  full  complement  of  paddles ;  and  we 
started  with  the  feeling  of  strength  which  many  hands  give  to  the 
performance  of  great  works.  The  canoes  carried  boards  and  native 
food,  provisions  for  ourselves,  and  household  furniture.  The  week 
previous,  Mr.  Reading  had  taken  up  a  large  canoe  filled  with  foreign 
provisions,  our  food  for  the  coming  year.  Just  a  few  hours  before 
our  departure,  news  was  received  that  a  native  trader,  in  a  fight  with 
a  Fang  village,  on  the  river-side,  more  than  half  of  the  way  up  to 
Talaguga,  had  killed  three  men  there;  that  the  Fang  were  greatly 
incensed  thereby ;  and  that  any  canoe  passing  would  incur  the  danger 
of  an  attack  from  them.  But,  our  crews  seemed  to  smother  their 
fear,  which  we  knew  they  felt,  and  we  had  no  hestitation  in  starting. 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  Ill 

Happilj^  at  the  very  last  moment,  three  young  men,  former  pupils 
of  the  School,  asked  to  be  taken.  Thej^  were  kindly  accepted.  But, 
many  of  the  crews,  from  near  villages,  wished  to  stop  at  their  homes 
and  get  guns,  &c.  The  crew  of  the  'Nellie-Howard'  were  all  held 
to  their  promise,  though  the  Dr.  was  obliged  to  land  and  go  to  their 
village,  to  hurry  them  from  their  multitudinous  leave-takings.  Be- 
fore leaving  the  first  village,  we  heard  that  two  of  the  crew  of  one 
of  the  canoes  had  deserted,  fearing  the  Fang  along  the  route.  This 
was  distressing  to  that  crew  who  wished  as  many  paddles  as  jDossible. 
We  passed  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  saw  the  principal  canoe  touch 
the .  other  side,  and  nearly  every  man  left  the  canoe.  We  passed 
within  speaking  distance,  and  asked  the  cause.  Three  from  that 
canoe  had  deserted,  their  mothers  fearing  to  have  their  sons  go  on 
such  a  perilous  journey.  These  same  young  men,  when  their  inclina- 
tions lead,  are  not  so  easily  restrained  by  their  mothers.  The  leader 
of  the  canoe  threw  down  his  paddle,  saying  he  would  not  go  at  all 
with  so  few  men.  The  Doctor  promised  him  two  from  another  canoe ; 
and  we  all  slowly  passed  on.  But  the  entire  company  were  in  ill  humor; 
and  the  peace  of  the  journey  seemed  to  be  broken.  The  missionaries 
could  only  endure,  and  trust  that  He  who  prepares  the  hearts  of  all 
men  would  so  over-rule  their  discontent  and  rebellion  that  a  safe 
arrival  should  be  secured.  Also,  another  earnest  prayer  was  offered 
for  the  withholding  of  rain,  which  would  not  only  cause  loss  of  goods, 
but  great  discomfort  and  possible  danger  of  health.  We  lunched  in 
the  woods,  about  2  P.  M.  The  wife's  little  boat  'Swan,'  with  three 
young  men,  instead  of  closely  following  the  'Nellie-Howard,'  went 
their  own  way;  and,  as  the  shades  of  night  fell  around  us,  they  were 
hid  from  our  view.  We  were  troubled,  as  they  were  in  danger  of 
running  aground  on  the  many  islands  in  mid-stream,  and  we  knew 
they  would  be  in  great  fear  of  the  Fang  along  the  shore. 

"Wearily  (more  truthftilly  lazily)  our  crew  pulled;  and  we  were, 
very  much  relieved  when  the  lights  of  an  American  negro  trader's 
house  shot  across  our  bow  at  9.30  P.  M.  We  landed,  the  last  of  the 
5  crafts,  went  ashore;  and  enjoyed  for  the  night  the  hospitality  of 
our  fellow-countryman,  Mr.  Ermy.  But,  Oh!  the  mosquitoes,  and 
the  hideous  cries  of  the  two  watchmen!  Little  rest,  and  less  sleep, 
that  night ! 

"Thursday  we  again  started,  with  a  second  canoe  in  a  semi- 
rebellious  state. 

"By  3  P.  M.,  we  reached  Belambila,  and  carried  bedding,  &c.,  to 
the  little  mission-house.  This  house  has  been  closed  nearly  two 
years,  and  was  jout  in  the  care  of  a  native  living  near.  Earnest 
prayer  has  been  made  that  one  of  our  christian  j'oung  men  should 


112  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

offer  to  live  there  as  a  Bible-reader,  though  it  be  among  the  most 
superstitious  and  degraded  of  all  our  tribes,  the  Bakele.  The  dusty 
walls  and  floors  were  not  very  inviting,  tho'  we  were  glad  of  their 
protection  from  possible  rain.  A  few  Bakele  came  to  the  house  to 
greet  us;  and,  in  the  evening,  we  gathered  the  crews  together  for 
evening-prayers. 

"At  6.30,  the  next  morning,  we  were  in  our  boat,  ready  for  a 
start.  But,  before  pushing  off,  the  missionary  and  company  sang  a 
native  hymn,  and  he  offered  a  jDrayer.  The  crews  were  in  good 
spirits,  and  pulled  well ;  and  we  reached  the  eating-place  at  the  mouth 
of  a  little  creek  by  11  A.  M.  We  had  our  tea  and  warmed  tin  of  corn, 
in  the  boat ;  and  started  again  after  a  rest  of  two  hours.  We  entered 
upon  the  most  dangerous  part  of  the  journey;  for,  that  afternoon  we 
were  to  pass  the  place  of  conflict  so  much  feared.  From  the  first 
day  to  this  time,  every  village  that  brought  us  nearer  to  the  dreaded 
point  gave  us  new  versions  of  the  trouble,  changing  the  location, 
and  reducing  the  number  of  killed  to  one ;  while  one  man  averred  that 
the  affair  was  entirely  settled.  We  had  no  trouble  that  day  in  keep- 
ing our  crafts  near  us.  Fear  was  a  stronger  master  than  the  white 
man.  To  increase  the  distress  of  our  men,  we  met  a  little  steam- 
launch  coming  down  river.  On  board  was  an  Englishman  (a  trader) 
and  a  Roman  Catholic  priest.  The  latter  had  taken  passage  for  the 
purpose  of  \'iewing  the  land,  having  as  plan  the  establishing  of  a 
mission  near  us.  Thus  closely  these  adherents  of  the  Romish  See 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  our  Mission!  The  trader  had  promised  to 
take  him  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Talaguga;  but,  hearing  of  this 
Affray,  turned  back  the  second  day  of  the  journey.  Our  men  could 
argue;  what  can  this  our  poor  missionary  do  in  the  face  of  savage 
Fang  whom  this  trader  with  his  steam-launch  flees  from? 

"It  was  about  5  o'clock  of  a  beautiful  afternoon,  when  we  reached 
a  point  where  the  river  widened,  on  the  opposite  side  rising  a  high 
hill  [Rere-volo].  Majestically  it  overlooked  the  river  below,  and 
beautifully  dressed  was  it  with  the  bright  greens  of  the  forest  trees, 
lit  up  by  the  brilliantly  setting  sun  [the  regular  6  P.  M.  sunset].  The 
offending  village  on  the  top  of  the  hill  commanded  the  entire  river. 
On  the  right  side,  a  sand-bank  reached  far  out  into  the  water;  and 
dusky  forms  from  the  village  on  the  hill  were  seen  running  to  the 
water-side.  Our  own  5  crafts,  with  two  others  (strangers  who. en- 
tered our  company  for  protection  under  Dr.  Nassau's  name)  huddling 
more  closely  together,  advanced  into  the  exposed  portion  of  the  river. 
Our  crew  kept  telling  the  Doctor  there  was  a  sand-bar  in  our  way  at 
the  right.  But,  he  knew  differently.  What  their  fears  said  was, 
'Guns  are;  guns  there,'  would  have  been  more  (ruthful. 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  113 

"All  kept  in  mid-stream,  until  directly  opposite  the  village,  and 
then  turned  toward  it  and  hugged  closely  the  base  of  the  hill,  [There 
was  the  shortest  and  easiest  channel.  But,  to  the  crews,  it  did  seem 
as  if  I  was  deliberately  leading  them  into  danger.  Perhaps  the 
apparent  audacity  of  my  manoeuvres  may  have  checked  the  Fang, 
if  really  they  had  any  intention  to  attack].  The  '  Xellie-Howard ' 
passed  near  the  sand-bank,  and  we  were  greeted  kindly  by  the  staring 
Fang,  tho'  we  did  not  think  best  to  stop. 

"After  we  had  turned  into  a  bend  of  the  river  which  hid  those 
people  from  us,  we  found  one  canoe  missing.  Turning  back,  we  met 
it  opposite  the  village,  and  escorted  it  safely  past  the  danger  its  crew 
feared.  This  point  past,  the  crews  were  greatly  relieved,  and  cheerily 
brought  the  crafts,  before  dark,  to  the  place  where  we  were  to  stay 
all  night.  As  we  landed,  one  young  man  said,  'Ah!  yes,  we  passed 
safely  because  Dr.  Nassau  was  with  us.'  We  thankfully  said  we 
passed  safely;  saw  rain  falling  on  all  sides,  but  not  touching  us.  We 
passed  unw.et;  only  felt  the  accompanying  wind;  and  realized  that 
our  crews  were  becoming  more  and  more  quiet  and  obedient  because 
God  was  with  us. 

"Our  camp-mats  and  bedding  were  laid  in  the  boat.  Just  as  we 
were  ready  for  sleep,  the  sound  of  coming  wind  and  rain  was  heard. 
We  still  prayed,  tho'  we  knew  the  rain  must  come.  So  it  did;  but 
not  enough  to  in  the  least  incommode  us. 

"Before  clay-break  of  Sat'y,  10th,  most  of  our  crafts  were  off, 
tho'  we  heard  some  of  the  crews  protesting  because  of  the  threatening 
tornado.  By  6  A.  M.,  we  were  starting.  The  sun  was  clouded  all 
day,  but  we  felt  no  storm.  One  more  meal  in  the  forest,  and  before 
3  P.  M.  our  entire  company  touched  the  shore  at  Talaguga,  within  a 
few  minutes  of  each  other,  and  gi'eat  shouts  of  rejoicing  on  the  part 
of  the  crews,  and  welcomes.  Never  have  we  passed  four  successive 
days  wherein  God's  protecting  hand  was  more  visibly  seen.  True, 
our  prayers  went  up  hourly  to  the  Mercy  Seat;  but,  why  this  in- 
creased spirit  of  prayer  and  trust?  Have  not  our  friends  of  Monmouth 
Presbytery  been  praying  for  us? 

"I  write  in  the  midst  of  disorders  of  unpacking;  and,  should  this 
letter  reach  you  late,  even  too  late  for  the  Meeting,  tho'  I  shall  most 
deeply  regret  it,  still  I  beg  forgiveness  because  of  the  time  and  strength 
having  been  so  entirely  taken  by  the  labors  which  always  attend 
moving,  particularly  those  which  are  met  in  this  land.  Greetings  to 
you  all,  the  most  heartfelt.  Indeed,  the  head  is  full  of  loving  re- 
membrances for  the  beloved  President  and  each  dear  friend  who  sits 
by  her  side,  or  who  may  be  looking  into  her  face  with  earnest  praying 
eyes,  and  for  the  many  whose  hearts  are  with  3'ou,  though  they  be 
not  present." 


114  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

From  her  diary:  "Sabbath,  Mar.  11th.  Just  as  we  were  at  tea, 
Messieurs  Mizon,  Rigail  de  Lastours,  Jacque  de  Brazza  [brother  of 
Count  Brazza],  ]\Iichaud,  and  their  14  canoes  and  190  men,  stopped 
at  the  landing  [on  their  way  up-river  to  the  interior,  bringing  us  our 
mail].  Lieut.  Mizon  came  up  the  hill,  followed  by  Michaud  barefoot. 
He  was  sent  back,  and  put  on  a  pair  of  shoes.  The  others  soon 
followed.  Two  large  dogs,  which  our  little  one  wanted  to  fight.  Thej'' 
took  tea  with  us.  Troubled  with  our  small  table.  They  left  the 
house  early;  and  we  read  our  mail.  .  .  .  The  French  camp-fires 
were  very  pretty  on  our  hill-side.  Mar.  12th.  The  French  left  early 
this  morning,  and  very  promptly." 

A  letter,  of  date  April  16th,  to  Mrs.  Perkins:  "We,  the  husband 
and  self,  are  comfortably  settled  in  our  little  bamboo  Cottage.  How 
I  would  enjoy  your  presence  here!  How  I  do  long  sometimes  for  the 
home-friends,  that  they  might  see  viy  African  home!  We  have  three 
rooms,  small  and  crowded;  but  our  [combined]  bed-room  and  parlor 
is  really  pretty.  The  other  two  rooms  answer  for  dining  and  store 
room.  Our  new  bed-room  set  of  the  hght  ash  stands  out  in  cheering 
relief  against  the  dark  bamboo  walls.  A  sewing  machine,  writing 
desk,  and  two  trunlcs  fill  up  all  available  space.  A  cup-board  in  one 
corner,  for  our  wearing  apparel,  three-cornered  shelves  in  another, 
for  books.  A  narrow  tier  of  shelves  on  one  side  of  the  room,  for  books 
also,  does  not  add  to  the  beauty  of  the  room  (all  being  made  of  pack- 
ing boxes,  with  sides  rudely  planed,  and  with  original  nail  holes  very 
apparent)  but,  they  add  to  our  comfort.  My  one  disappointment 
about  the  house  is,  there  is  no  'prophet's  chamber.'  I  had  hoped  to 
have  Mrs.  Reading's  company,  for  a  little  time  at  least.  Now,  after 
her  recovery  from  a  severe  sickness,  and  her  visit  to  Gaboon,  I  am  not 
so  sure  of  the  fulfillment  of  hopes.  A  young  wife,  a  christian  womah, 
has  accompanied  her  husband  who  is  one  of  Dr.  Nassau's  workmen, 
to  Talaguga.  She  will  be  company,  though  the  assistance  I  expected 
of  her,  I  fear,  will  fail  me. 

"Around  the  house  are  the  original  forest  trees;  and,  the  clearing 
progresses  slowly  because  of  few  laborers.  The  fallen  monarchs, 
with  accompanying  debris,  lie  immediately  around  the  premises, 
adding  to  the  wildness,  and  sometimes  desolateness  of  the  place. 

"Last  Friday,  April  13th,  was  an  eventful  one  in  our  (juiet  lives. 
Nothing  less  than  a  river  journey  to  a  town  eight  miles  below.  All 
preparations  of  craft  and  food-box  were  made  the  day  before.  Break- 
fast and  Prayers  over,  we  found  ourselves  in  the  "kongongo"  by 
7  A.  M.  This  is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  ridden  any  distance  in  a 
native  dug-out;  but,  found  it  very  pleasant,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
cramped  unnatural  position  I  was  obliged  to  take.     The  craft  was 


1SS3,    AT   TALAGUGA.  115 

35  ft.  long  b}^  3  ft.  in  width.  The  husband  took  the  rudder,  and,  in 
front  of  him  was  a  httle  deck  2ift.  x  4  ft.  On  this  platform  I  sat, 
Turk  fashion.  But,  the  length  was  cut  off  to  3  ft.,  by  the  presence  of 
two  paddlers  on  the  forward  end  of  said  deck.  I  relieved  myself  by,  at 
times,  reclining;  and,  the  husband's  knees  supplied  the  need  of  a 
back.  Eight  paddlers  composed  the  crew.  Nearest  me,  at  my  left, 
a  stalwart,  faithful  fellow.  By  his  side,  a  diligent  worker,  but  one  who 
makes  most  ludicrous  motions  with  head  and  neck  at  each  stroke  of  the 
paddle,  reminding  one  of  the  grotesque  mantis  religiosa  so  often  seen 
here.  We  were  not  surprised,  next  day,  that  he  complained  loudly 
of  pain  in  said  neck  and  shoulder.  In  front  of  them  sits  the  bright- 
est-faced and  finest-formed  of  all,  who  enjoys  the  position  of  leader 
among  them,  and  who  has  his  hands  full  while  trying  to  keep  peace 
between  a  weak-minded  Galwa  and  three  Fang,  between  which  tribes 
there  is  deep  and  everpresent  enmity.  His  partner,  the  'enfant'  of 
the  party,  divides  his  time  about  equally  between  the  duty  he  thinks 
due  to  those  about  him  in  relating  the  brilliant  ideas  that  flit  across 
his  mental  vision,  and  the  duty  which  urges  him  to  attend  to  the  one 
cloth  that  covers  his  limbs  and  loins,  and  lastly  and  leastly  the  duty 
due  to  his  master  in  aiding  the  propelling  of  the  craft ;  for,  his  paddle 
is  often  out  of  the  water,  and  generally  moved  with  heartless  feeble- 
ness. Three  of  the  terrible  Fang  complete  the  crew.  One  has,  as 
head-dress,  A  tuft  of  wool,  an  inch  wide,  running  on  the  top  from 
forehead  to  crown,  with  sides  and  back  closely  shaven.  He  is  principal 
in  'a  palaver'  of  his  village,  the  disturbing  cause  being  the  murder  of 
his  wife ;  and  he  is  the  murderer.  Without  doubt,  the  man  will  escape, 
by  paying  a  very  small  fine;  for,  the  woman  he  killed  was  only  his 
wife!  He  owned  her;  had  he  not  a  right  to  do  with  his  property  as 
he  pleased?  The  children  he  severely  wounded  were  his  possession. 
Who  had  a  right  to  interfere  with  his  dealings,  however  cruel,  with 
those  over  whom  he  held  such  undisputable  control?  For  a  long 
time,  my  husband  would  not  employ  him;  but,  necessity  at  last 
compelled  him,  as  our  workmen  have  been  painfully  few.  Another  of 
the  Fang  has  been  a  great  comfort  to  us,  and  is  the  most,  and  nearly 
the  only  one  who  has  been  willing  to  work  at  the  Mission;  and  even 
he  works  hardly  more  than  half  the  time.  But,  he  is  one  of  the  most 
faithful  workers  found  among  these  sons  of  the  forest.  When  the 
Husband  first  tried  to  employ  the  Fang,  they  would  come  an  hour  or 
so,  late,  and  after  listlessly  handling  an  axe  for  one  or  two  hours, 
would  cease,  and  leave,  to  get  food;  and  always  dispute  the  account 
of  day's  labor.  Now,  they  are  regular  in  their  hours,  trust  the  mis- 
sionary as  to  their  pay,  and  work  as  faithfully  as  the  African  negroes 
generally  do.     This  is  one  of  the  first  glimmerings  of  success,  in  the 


116  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

hope  that  they  may  be  recipients,  not  of  the  temporal  only,  but  of  the 
spiritual  blessings  which  the  light  we  offer  confers. 

"But,  I  have  left  our  story:  The  day  was  perfect.  We  passed 
rapidly  down  stream  with  the  swift  current.  Now,  near  the  shore, 
whose  banks  were  covered  with  tropical  vines  and  beautiful  ferns 
which  cling  to  rock,  and  enshroud  the  trees  in  a  dense  veil  of  exquisite 
loveliness.     Here,  under  long  drooping  boughs  where, 

'Shadows  dark,  and  sunlight  sheen    . 
Alternate  come  and  go,' 

Then,  in  mid-stream,  while, 

'  Sailing  clouds  went  by. 
Like  ships  upon  the  sea,' 

casting  fantastic  shadows  on  the  sun-lit  waters  below,  whose  beauty 
is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  dark  border-line  so  exquisitely  curved,  a 
reflection  of  the  outline  of  the  regular  rise  and  fall  of  surrounding 
hills.  Suddenly  the  tiny  blue-eyed  flower  peeps  from  its  emerald 
setting  [a  flower  which  I  had  dedicated  to  her,  with  a  short  jDoem,  in 
February,  1882].  There,  an  aged  monarch  rises  near  us,  upon  whose 
trunk  and  branch  the  orchid  and  other  parasites  cover  their  mur- 
derous work  with  a  show  of  youthful  beauty.  Oh,  my  back!  An 
hour's  ride  brings  us  to  a  town.  We  land.  What  a  relief!  A  pro- 
cession begins  the  tiresome  ascent  of  the  long  hill  on  whose  summit  is 
the  town.  First,  one  of  the  crew  with  our  chairs ;  another,  with  food- 
box;  another  with  our  cooking  utensils;  then,  the  missionaries. 
Heated,  and  a  little  weary,  we  pass  through  the  groves  of  the  long 
leaved  plantains  by  which  the  town  is  surrounded.  ...  I  was'  to 
stay  there,  while  Dr.  Nassau  went  to  Yena,  a  village  a  few  miles 
farther  down  river.  By  mistake,  we  had  entered  a  small  back  street 
so  narrow  that  the  eaves  of  the  houses  on  the  two  sides  were  so  close 
together  that  our  elbows  would  have  touched  them  had  we  not  walked 
side-wise  and  single-file.  When  we  emerged  into  the  wider  street, 
we  were  met  with  shouts  of  women  and  naked  children;  crowding; 
ecstatic  actions  of  admiration.  Enter  the  large  'palaver'  house; 
filled.  O!  the  screams,  answered  by  still  shriller  yells.  When  it  was 
discovered  that  I  was  to  stay,  the  story  was  repeated  and  responded  to. 
Leaving  one  young  man  with  me,  the  Doc^tor  departed.  The  people 
asked  to  hear  me  speak.  I  sang.  And  then  the  people  departed  on 
their  day's  works,  A  few  were  left,  whom  I  will  describe  to  you.  In 
front  of  me,  an  old  worthless  fellow  scraping  short  sticks.  Near  him, 
a  sick  man  reclines.     Then,  a  woman  with  a  most  distressing  tumor. 


1S83,    AT   TALAGUGA.  117 

A  naked  little  boy;  a  man  making  twine  for  fishing  cords;  numerous 
little  fellows;  a  very  young  one  who  eyes  me  most  suspiciously; 
idlers  interspersed  between.  Ompavo  (thatch)  along  the  sides  of  the 
shed,  keeping  out  the  sun,  over  which  are  inquisitive  heads.  The 
town  is  very  long.  The  houses  are  continuous,  with  bark  sides.  I 
shook  our  little  clock;  surprise  and  fear.  One  woman,  her  hair  half- 
dressed.  No  receding  foreheads.  One  very  high  forehead.  One  timid 
little  fellow  playing  with  a  big  man ;  people  eating  with  a  stick;  a  neck- 
lace of  narrow  strip  of  cloth  with  buttons  sewed  on.  In  the  eating- 
room,  I  felt  sick,  and  reclined  on  a  bed;  the  sickening  smoke  of  the 
fire.     Thermometer  at  107°.     A  little  girl  behind  the  wall  of  sticks." 

Under  date  of  April  27th,  a  letter  to  the  Foster  Band,  of  Barnegat: 
"I  am  writing  under  the  shade  of  the  plantains  in  a  very  small 
hamlet  near  the  banks  of  this  river.  In  passing  up  and  down,  we 
had  noticed  this  spot,  and  had  determined  to  make  it  our  next 
stopping-place,  where  we  should  speak  to  the  people,  of  God.  This 
morning,  about  8.30  o'clock,  our  native  canoe  touched  this  point.  A 
woman's  voice  in  the  forest  directed  our  steps  to  the  path.  But,  after 
scrambling  up  the  steep  bank,  we  looked  in  vain  for  said  path.  The 
missionary  told  a  Fang  to  go  ahead  and  lead  us  to  the  hamlet.  He  did 
so;  and  we  clambered  over  fallen  trees,  through  dried  brush,  up  the 
steep  ascent,  until  we  reached  two  huts  and  a  shed-like  reception- 
room,  called  here,  in  English,  a  'palaver-house.'  Two  weeks  before, 
we  had  visited  a  very  large  town  opposite;  and  the  greetings  given 
here  from  two  women,  were  the  greatest  possible  contrast  to  those 
received  from  the  clamorous  crowd  of  the  first  town.  The  one  man, 
head  of  this  hamlet,  was  in  the  forest  cutting  trees;  but,  being  called, 
came  to  us.  After  putting  down  his  gun  and  hunting-bag  (without 
which  they  never  go  to  their  work  in  the  woods)  he  saluted  us  very 
kindly.  He  was  a  large  fellow.  Not  very  i^leasant-faced.  He  had 
around  his  loins  a  piece  of  bagging,  that  was  his  entire  dress.  But, 
exceedingly  generous,  as  you  will  soon  see.  The  missionary  told  him 
he  was  going  still  farther  down  river,  but  would  leave  his  wife  and  a 
young  native  girl  in  his  village  under  his  protection;  then,  returning 
in  a  few  hours  afterwards,  he  would  talk  to  him  and  his  women  of 
God.  The  man  was  well-pleased.  But,  strangely  enough  for  this 
country,  he  Avas  industrious,  and  asked  if  he  might  go  back  to  his 
work,  and  return  when  the  sun  was  directly  overhead.  There  could 
no  harm  come  to  us;  so,  we  were  perfectly  willing  that  he  should 
do  so;  indeed,  rather  relieved  by  his  absence. 

"Before  Dr.  Nassau  started  away,  he  was  presented  with  the 
head,  neck,  and  one  fore-leg  of  a  monkey.     This  was  a  big  present. 


118  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

But,  before  this  man  left  (the  missionary  having  gone  first)  he  gave 
also  nearly  the  half  of  a  monkey's  carcase,  which  had  been  smoked 
until  it  was  as  black  as  soot  itself.  This  was  a  still  larger  gift;  and 
they  will  be  enjoyed  by  our  crew.  The  young  negress  who  came  with 
me,  is  sitting  on  a  native  stool  sewing,  making  a  '  cloth '  for  her  young 
husband.  This  cloth  answers  for  pantaloons,  and,  by  our  mission 
employes,  is  fastened  around  the  waist,  falling  to  the  ground. 

"One  of  the  crew  was  left  to  care  for  our  protection  and  service, 
and  is  now  preparing  the  plantains,  and  cooking  the  riieat.  Very 
soon,  he  will  make  a  fire  for  the  missionary  on  the  ground,  and  we  will 
have  our  potatoes  baked,  and  water  boiled  for  tea. 

"Of  the  three  women  here,  one  is  very  old  and  lame,  and  sits  in 
the  door  of  her  hut;  the  other,  just  outside,  squatted  in  its  shade, 
is  munching  her  morning  meal  of  cassava.  The  third  has  been  standing 
a  long  time  in  mid-path,  with  the  hot  sun  sending  its  rays  on  her  naked 
back.  She  tells  me  she  is  sick;  which  I  can  readily  believe,  from 
her  emaciated  body  and  distressed  face.  Her  two  little  children  are 
much  like  her  in  dirty  skin  and  protruding  bones.  All  of  their  faces 
are  tattooed,  and  most  of  their  breasts  and  abdomens  are  very  fan- 
tastically cut  in  diamonds  and  parallel  lines  of  all  lengths  and  forms. 
"Two  more  women,  with  cutlass  (machete)  on  shoulder,  and  in 
a  terribly  undrest  costume  pass  us.  My  maiden  greets  them.  They 
seem  too  dazed  to  reply.  Evidently,  they  are  just  from  their  gardens. 
Soon,  a  voice  from  the  distance  is  heard.  They  reply,  and  hasten 
away,  first  having  gathered  courage  to  say  'Mbolo,'  the  native  'good 
morning.' 

"It  is  getting  mid-day,  and  the  sun's  rays  strike  us  directly  from 
above,  driving  us  nearer  and  nearer  the  plantain  trees,  which  are 
poor  protection  against  its  power.  Occasionally  a  feeble  breeze 
relieves  the  intense  heat.  Just  now,  one  of  the  women  came  near  me, 
and  I  held  the  little  clock  I  have,  to  her  ear.  She  is  much  pleased, 
and  more  dazed  by  its  tick,  tick,  with  no  apparent  agent  near  to  cause 
it  thus  'to  talk,'  as  they  call  this  ticking. 

"I  must  stop,  to  attend  to  our  lunch.  We  placed  our  dishes 
of  food  on  the  two  boxes,  and  ate  with  quite  a  relish  our  baked  po- 
tatoes, njgve  (ripe  plantains),  bread  and  butter,  and  gooselJerry 
turn-over  made  by  the  wife  the  day  previous,  from  the  canned  berries. 
"Having  finished  eating,  the  missionary  called  the  people  to 
him,  as  he  sat  under  a  rude  shed.  Few  were  present,  yet  they  were 
quiet  and  gave  good  attention  to  the  words  spoken.  But,  remember, 
these  half-dressed  men  and  women  and  naked  children,  though  sitting 
so  quietly  and  meekly,  needed  only  the  touch  of  some  exciting  word 
to  rouse  them  to  a  frenzy  of  rage,  when  th(>y  would  be  n^ady  to  per- 


1SS3,    AT   TALAGUGA.  119 

petrate  the  most  cruel  deeds,  not  stopping  short  of  murderous  blows. 
To  us,  they  were  only  kindness  and  affability,  and  it  was  hard  to  con- 
ceive of  the  dark  deeds  we  knew  all  were  acquainted  with.  Why  were 
they  thus  scantily  clothed,  do  you  ask?  Why,  living  in  such  dark 
dirty  huts;  having  leaves  for  plates,  and  pieces  of  wood  for  seats; 
never  having  even  handled  a  saw  or  any  of  the  commonest  tools  and 
household  conveniences  so  familiar  to  you  all,  excepting  rude  knives, 
forks,  and  spoons?  A  hook  as  new  and  strange  to  them  as  a  rhinoceros 
would  be  to  you. 

"The  reason:  all  these  great  differences  between  your  homes  and 
lives  and  theirs  are  due  to  the  fact  that  you  have  the  light  of  Bible 
truth.  They,  in  the  darkness  of  Bible-less  homes,  in  the  gross  dark- 
ness into  which  human  hearts  and  Satan  alivays  lead  when  God  gives 
them  up  to  their  own  lusts  and  counsels.  These  jDeople  are  'without 
God,  and  without  hope.'  So,  the  missionary  began  by  telling  them 
of  God,  of  His  attributes:  His  commandments,  of  the  way  in  which 
sin  first  came  into  the  world;  and,  of  the  Savior,  'Jisu,'  the  Son  of 
God.  The  Services  were  closed  by  the  missionary  reading,  they  re- 
peating after  him,  clause  by  clause,  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  their  own 
language.  We  left  them  thus,  not  knowing  whether  any  of  the  seed 
sown  had  touched  hearts  which  were  ready  to  receive  where  it  might 
take  root,  grow,  and  bear  fruit.  We  will  go  there  again.  But,  the 
result  of  our  teaching  is  with  God.  We  are  here  to  teach.  You  are 
in  your  own  homes,  and  can  do  your  part  by  praying  and  giving. 
.  .  .  So,  I  wish  you  to  read  of  not  only  our  work  in  Africa,  but 
of  the  work  and  workers  in  China,  JajDan,  India,  S3a-ia,  &c.  &c." 

Mrs.  Nassau  kept  up,  during  all  her  Kangwe  and  Talaguga  days, 
her  regular  and  prayerful  daily  Bible  studies.  The  following  entries 
in  her  diary  are  only  specimens  of  hundreds:  "Sunday,  April  29th. 
Very  quiet  day.  I  read  in  Wojnan's  Work  for  Women,  go  over 
all  the  names  in  the  Historical  Sketch  for  China.  .  .  .  Wrote 
a  little  Bible  lesson,  on  The  Omnipresence  of  God. 

"Apr.  30th.  Wrote  a  Bible-lesson  on  the  Invisibility  of  God. 
May  the  Holy  Spirit  bless  this  study  of  the  Word. 

"Tuesday,  May  8th.  Just  as  we  were  through  our  dinner,  Xguva, 
with  a  crew  of  three,  and  our  mail,  came.  I  had  27  letters.  Husband 
received  a  memorandum  from  Rev.  .  .  .  Xot  pleasant.  News 
from  home  that  I  had  '  a  little  daughter ' ! ! !  News  (commands)  from 
the  French  Government,  that  we  are  to  close  all  'Stations'  outside 
of  Kangwe  and  Talaguga.     Also,  soon,  are  not  to  teach  or  preach  in 


120  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

English,  nor  even  in  Mpongwe,    I  have  tried  to  study  at  least  an  hour 
all  these  days." 

[The  somewhat  of  dread  with  which  Mrs.  Nassau  had  at  first  looked 
on  the  thought  of  maternity  had  disappeared  so  entirely  that  she  had 
been  wishing,  praying,  and  planning  for  motherhood.  She  had  taken 
Mrs.  Reading  into  her  confidence,  who  had  enthusiastically  promised 
her  her  presence  and  assistance.  But,  there  had  been  no  other  basis 
for  that  report  from  the  United  States  than  some  misconstrued  words 
in  Mrs.  Nassau's  letters  to  her  relatives  about  her  desires  or  expec- 
tations; perhaps  this  had  been  misunderstood  as  hopes.  Those 
French  governmental  edicts  were  only  a  part  of  a  programme  of 
Roman  Catholic  persecution  of  our  Protestant  Mission,  of  which  we 
had  already  felt  signs  and  were  yet  to  feel  greater  effects,  which,  eight 
years  later,  drove  the  Mission  from  our  (then)  best  field,  the  Ogowe. 
There  would  have  been  no  reason  for  our  departure  if  France  had 
been  wise  at  that  time  to  emancipate  herself  from  Papal  domination, 
as  she  finally  has  done  twenty  years  later.  The  "Stations"  indicated 
were  only  little  out-stations,  where  native  evangelists  had  been  sent ; 
even  against  these,  Romanism  raised  its  hand.  And  yet,  some  of 
our  Protestant  friends  in  the  United  States,  in  strange  blindness  and 
mistaken  liberality,  wrote  of  those  Roman  Catholic  priests  as  our 
"Christian  brothers,"  and  suggested  "comity."] 

"Thursday,  May  10th.  We  heard  that  the  French  had  occupied 
Njoli  island  (two  miles  up  river  from  Talaguga) ;  and,  when  I  saw 
a  white  man  land  at  our  beach,  I  tho't  the  French  had  come.  It 
proved  to  be  a  German  trader,  Mr.  Rene.  He  came  and  took  tea 
with  us.  We  gave  him  some  food  to  take  with  him.  We  were  all 
excited,  because  of  the  French.  Mr.  Sinclair's  trader  was  not  allowed 
to  locate  in  the  Fang  villages  near  Njoli.  Mr.  Rene's  canoes  were 
stopped,  and  searched  for  guns.  Both  of  us  troubled  about  Rev, 
's  letter,  and  the  French. 

"Sat'y,  May  12th.  Husband  went  to  Njoli  island  to  call  on  the 
French.  I  expected  him  to  return  at  3.30  P.  M.  Did  not,  until 
5  P.  M.,  found  the  French  beyond  Njoli.  Met  very  pleasantly  by 
them.  Glad  that  he  called.  [They  had  actually  landed  on  and  in- 
spected Njoli,  but  had  gone  on  three  miles  farther  and  definitely 
located  at  Asange  island,  which,  however,  is  to  this  day,  mis-called 
"Njoli  Poste."] 

"Sunday,  May  13th.  Troubled  all  day,  fearing  the  French  would 
call.     While  at  Sab.  Sch.,  two  canoes  passed.     I  trembled.     But, 


18S3,    AT   TALAGUGA.  121 

God  kindly  gave  us  a  quiet  day.     I  read  the  For.  Miss'y  for  Feb'y; 
and  again  met  the  Chinese  Mission." 

[Mrs.  Nassau  had  strong  objection  to  all  forms  of  Sabbath  visiting.] 

"Monday,  May  14th.  About  9  A.  M.,  the  French  gentlemen, 
Messieurs,  Lieuts.  Michelez  and  Montaignac.  Lieut.  Mezon  also 
called,  but  only  at  the  water-side,  as  he  was  not  well,  and  was  on  his 
way  down  river  to  Gaboon  and  France.  The  gentlemen  were  very 
pleasant.  Spoke  English  well,  particularly  Montaignac,  who  rattled 
all  the  time.  They  had  sent  their  canoe  farther  down  to  buy  plan- 
tains. I  had  tea  brought,  and  molasses  cake,  to  the  porch,  and  poured 
it  there.  Then,  as  their  canoe  did  not  come,  we  proposed  dinner: — 
Had  roast  beef,  prepared  potatoes,  beans,  tomatoes,  fried  njfive  (ripe 
plantains),  coffee,  and  plum-pudding.  [All  these,  except  the  plan- 
tains, were  canned  provisions.]  Mons.  Michelez  fell  asleep  while 
reading  Stanley.  We  must  learn  French.  I  have  made  special 
prayer  that  I  may  be  able  to  learn  these,  Mpongwe,  Fang,  and  French. 
This  P.  M.,  a  Mpongwe  trader  has  come  to  Nyare's  town;  brought 
rum.     We  hear  their  drunken  songs  this  first  night. 

"Tuesday,  May  15th.  Washing  day.  Ten  canoes  of  French  Ex- 
pedition, with  as  many  white  men,  passed.  A  canoe  from  Njoli  passed 
early  to  Nyare's  town  to  buy  plantains.  Nyare's  people  would  not 
sell.  Did  not  like  price;  and,  besides,  they  'sold  to  Nassau'  V.ll 
I  tried  to  bake  jelly-cake  without  eggs,  nearly  failed,  still,  we  sent  three 
loaves  of  bread  and  the  cake  to  Mons.  Michelez." 

From  her  first  coming  to  Talaguga,  Mrs.  Nassau  had  a  zeal  to 
carry  the  Gospel  beyond.  We  saw  Roman  Catholic  priests  carried 
into  the  interior  by  the  Government  canoes.  I  asked  no  such  favor, 
but  both  Mrs.  Nassau  and  I  planned  to  travel  far  up-river,  over  my 
route  of  eighteen  months  pre\'ious,  during  the  cool  dry  season  (June 
to  August)  safe  from  rains.  She  made  herself  a  short-skirted  dress 
for  convenience  in  canoe  travel.  I  knew  that  trading  by  other  than 
French  was  forbidden  beyond  Njoli  Poste.  But  I  had  no  idea  that 
preacJmig  would  be,  when  I  applied  for  permission  to  the  local  Com- 
mandment ("Governor"),  Victor  de  Kerraoul,  at  that  Poste.  He 
refused  it;  said  that  none  but  French  might  pass,  for  a7iy  purpose 
whatever.  I  appealed  by  letter  to  his  superior,  Count  de  Brazza. 
Explanation  and  permission  from  him  came  just  a  year  later.  But 
it  was  then  too  late.  I  append  an  almost  literal  translation  of  his 
letter:  "I  regret  infinitely  that  the  instructions  that  I  had  given  to 
M.  de  Kerraoul  have  given  cause  of  a  delay  which  has  retarded  your 


122  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

outing  to  the  Okota.  The  means  employed  at  Xjoh  only  concerned 
the  black  traders,  whose  manner  of  negotiating  had  troubled  the 
security  of  the  upi^er  River.  The  traders  are  not  allowed  any  more 
to  have  guns  of  precision,  to  defend  themselves.  I  have  not  wanted 
them  to  create,  in  the  Interior  of  the  river,  any  interests  which  they 
are  not  capable  of  defending;  and,  that,  at  a  time  when  I  am  not 
in  position  to  give  them  the  protection  necessary  to  them. 

"As  for  you.  Doctor,  I  had  offered  you  since  a  long  time,  to  go 
up  again  with  me;  and  I  shall  always  be  happy  to  see  you  profit  by 
the  protection  which  any  of  our  expeditions  are  able  to  give  you." 

"May,  19th.  Went  to  Xyare's  village  [in  afternoon].  While 
there,  a  boy  came  saying  that  the  French  had  come.  We  hurried 
back.  Found  M.  de  Kerraoul,  'Gov.'  of  Njoh  and  Dr.  Schwebish. 
Tho'  a  little  awkward  in  meeting,  'Gov'  Kerraoul  was  very  gentle- 
manly. They  ate  supper  with  us: — had  kippered  herring,  and  corn- 
cake,  Bartlett  pears,  and  cranberries.  So  thankful  they  did  not 
come  to-morrow. 

"Tuesday,  May  22d.  Ironing  day.  [Cook]  William's  breath  still 
bad  [with  licjuor].  Sun  in  P.  M.  Studied  on  Mpongwe  and  Fang, 
in  A.  M.,  2^  hours.  In  P.  M.,  French  1^,  Mpongwe  J.  [Barring  his 
intemperance,  William,  an  Accra-coast  man,  who  had  seen  service 
as  a  steward  on  the  ocean  steamers,  was  an  excellent  cook.] 

"  Wed'y,  May,  23d.  Studied  Mpongwe  and  Fang  in  A.  M.  French 
in  P.  M.  Wrote  two  exercises.  Mended  in  evening;  and  Husband 
read  Stanley  to  me. 

"Sabbath,  June  3d.  Hamill  taught  me,  'My  God!  how  endless 
is  Thy  love,'  while  I  was  dressing.  One  of  the  most  perfect  days 
of  rest  and  quiet  we  have  known  here.  Nyare  and  Nyamba  [his  chief- 
wife]  call.  Dr.  talked  to  them.  A  company  of  strangers  passed 
up  from  their  town,  and  stuck  on  a  log,  and  broke  their  canoe.  Nyare 
had  told  them  not  to  go,  because  it  was  the  Sabbath!  Just  as  the 
peaceful  day  closed,  and  we  were  kneeling  in  prayer,  a  noisy  crowd 
of  drunken  fellows  passed.  Contrast!  The  noise  from  their  towns 
unknown  before  the  rum  came." 

Mrs.  Nassau  was  rejoiced  by  a  week's  visit  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reading 
and  their  little  daughter  Lizzie. 

"Wed'y,  June  13th.  We  all  go  to  the  French  Station  of  Njole. 
Met  the  'Governor,'  an  army  officer,  De  Brazza,  and  others.     Stuck 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  123 

on  a  rock.  Many  canoes;  people,  and  their  rush  to  see  us;  these 
driven  back  by  officer's  whip.  Soldiers.  De  Brazza  just  on  the 
point  of  starting;  waiting  for  farinya,  which  comes  while  we  are 
there.  Ask  us  to  dinner,  we  wait;  but,  as  the  lunch  does  not  come, 
we  leave.  Go  back  again,  to  see  the  upper  part  of  the  island;  then 
see  two  priests  before  us.  They  evidently  had  been  hiding.  Leave. 
Eat  oui-  lunch  in  the  mouth  of  a  little  creek.  Very  pleasant  ride 
back,  a  happy  day.  .  .  .  Mrs.  R.  and  I  look  up  a  site  for  a 
house  nearer  the  water-side." 

[It  had  become  apparent  that  the  location  on  the  Talaguga  hill- 
side was  open  to  the  same  objection  as  to  the  Kangwe  hill-top.  Climb- 
ing the  hill  cost  too  much  exertion.  It  was  decided  that  the  per- 
manent Talaguga  house  should  be  built  by  the  water-side,  a  few 
hundred  feet  across  the  brook,  on  the  side  opposite  to  the  original 
hut,  which  was  now  the  workmen's  dormitory.] 

"Tuesday,  June  19th.  34  years  old.  0!  God  give  me  Thy  Holy 
Spirit,  every  moment  of  the  coming  year.  This  is  my  birthday  re- 
cjuest.  Say  to  me,  as  Christ  once  said,  'Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee; 
go  in  peace.'  Show  to  me  all  my  weakness,  my  sins,  my  failings. 
Then,  Holy  Spirit,  strengthen  me  to  fight  every  battle,  never  to  re- 
treat from  a  position  taken  or  one  which  Thou  wouldst  have  me  take. 
Help  me  to  conquer.  Oh!  God,  Thou  knowest  my  wish,  that  I  may 
delight  only  in  doing  Thy  will;  that  I  may  have  'faith  that  will  not 
shrink  from  any  earthly  woe.'  Make  me  perfect,  right,  i^ure,  good; 
my  heart  a  pattern  of  Thine.  I  am  sure  I  have  grown  spiritually, 
and  am  more  consistent  in  walk  than  I  was  ten  years  ago.  But, 
0!  God,  shame  and  confusion  of  face  belong  to  me  that  the  growth 
has  been  so  feeble;  that  sin  has  held  dominion  over  me,  even  when 
claiming  Thyself  as  my  Master.  0!  forgive;  0!  strengthen  me  for 
the  coming  dangers  from  within  and  without.  I  can  not  let  Thee 
go  until  Thou  dost  bless  me.  For  Thy  name's  sake,  because  my 
sin  is  great,  heal  me.  Pour  out  upon  me  bountifully  Thy  Spirit. 
I  do  desire  to  do  all  things.  Christ,  help  me;  strengthen  me  and  my 
husband. 

"We  heard  loud  crying  in  town;  and  our  boys  said  the  women 
were  crying  because  all  were  sick;  and,  that  one  who  had  run  away 
was  being  searched  for,  and  then  would  be  tied  up.  Later,  Xyamba 
came,  and  said  A'yare  was  very  sick,  and  that  he  was  suspicious  of 
some  of  his  wives.  Then,  as  an  excuse,  we  think,  and  not  strictly 
true,  that  people  of  his  toT\ii  seized  those  wives,  five  of  them,  tied 
their  arms  back,  putting  a  stick  through  them,  then  a  stick  down 


124  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

their  sides,  so  that  they  oould  not  walk.     Their  cryings  were  what 
we  heard.     Nyare  says,  if  he  dies,  these  wives  will  be  killed." 

On  June  26th  we  started  down  river  in  the  "Nelly-Howard," 
on  the  usual  journey  for  the  quarterly  Communion  at  Kangwe: — 
"Canoe,  with  Mamba,  Nguva,  and  others,  starts  at  daylight.  We, 
about  8  A.  M.,  with  the  Fang,  Xtula,  making  a  crew  of  nine.  Forgot 
the  key  of  the  house.  Stop  and  send  back  for  it.  Ompwenge  came 
in  a  canoe,  and  Dr.  asked  him  to  remain  with  Njambe  and  Nyanda; 
which,  after  hesitation,  he  does.  Ate  at  .  .  .  Reach  Njagu- 
dembo's  about  4  P.  M.  Stay  all  night.  His  town  has  streets  at 
right  angles;  plenty  of  plantains  and  ground-nuts.  Many  children 
on  the  sand-bank.  Held  meeting  ashore  in  the  torch-light.  People 
noisy. 

"Wed'y  27th.  Reach  Belambila  at  .  .  .  Crews  all  go  to 
work  [clearing  the  premises].  I  suggest  that  we  try  to  finish  the 
grass-cutting,  and  go  on  to  Kangwe  to-day;  four  women  and  two 
men  help  [from  the  native  village];  and  we  start  about  2  P.  M.  Reach 
Ermy's  at  4  P.  M.  Crew  took  oars  [instead  of  paddles],  and  we 
reached  Kangwe  at  7  P.  M.     Sister  Bella  just  at  [evening]  prayers." 

I  declined  to  be  present  at  the  Session  meeting,  as  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  the  official  Stated  Supply,  for  I  always  made  it  a  rule 
to  carefully  refrain  from  even  the  appearance  of  assumption  on  the 
authority  of  others  when  I  was  a  visitor  at  their  stations,  knowing 
how  the  natives  would  naturally  insist  on  according  me  the  pre- 
cedence of  years  and  experience.  This  distressed  Mrs.  Nassau,  lest 
my  declinature  should  seem  to  slight  our  excellent  friend  Robinson. 
But,  I  preached  the  preparatory  sermon  on  Saturday  and  assisted' 
at  the  Sabbath  Communion.  But  again  I  distressed  her,  for  I  de- 
clined to  attend  a  wedding  performed  by  Brother  Robinson  for 
Elder  Nguva,  as  I  objected  to  the  youth  of  the  bride,  Onivi. 

My  visits  to  Kangwe  were  generally  followed  by  desertions  of 
my  crew.  Their  constant  complaint  was  the  scarcity  of  food  at 
Talaguga.  My  stay  at  Kangwe,  therefore,  was  not  restful.  I  had 
to  go  down  river  to  search  for  new  workmen.  On  the  way,  I  saw  a 
place  where  the  Fang  were  enclosing  five  elephants  in  a  corral.  I 
obtained  a  native  carpenter,  Ankombia,  and  a  weak  lad,  Rembili. 

"Wed'y  July  4th.  Husband  returned  with  one  sore-toed,  lame- 
fingered,  crooked-eyed  bo}^  and  Aveya's  bright-eyed  little  brother." 

I  took  Mrs.  Nassau,  my  sister  Isabella,  and  Miss  Harding  to  see 
the  corral,  having  on  the  way  a  dangerous  experience  with  the  boat 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  125 

in  the  Degeliye  rapids  of  a  side  stream,  of  whose  existence  I  had 
known,  but  had  not  been  really  aware  that  it  was  an  effluent,  and 
not  an  affluent,  nor  how  near  were  the  rapids  until  the  boat  was 
drawn  into  them. 

"Thursday  July  5th.  Go  to  see  the  elephants.  See  two,  one 
white.  Experience  in  the  Dggeliye  rapids.  Mail  handed  to  us  on 
our  return.  After  going  to  my  room,  I  find  that  Hattie  Foster  is 
dead  [her  sister-in-law].  .  .  .  Mr.  Menkel  with  [his  child]  Alek, 
has  come,  to  go  to  Talaguga.  [Mr.  Menkel,  the  mission  mechanic, 
I  had  invited  to  relieve  me  of  the  labor  of  gathering  from  the  forest 
material  for  the  proposed  new  framed  house  of  Talaguga.  His  little 
motherless  boy  became  a  new  care  to  Mrs.  Nassau.  With  her  heart 
sore  for  her  widowered  brother,  Mrs.  Nassau  began  packing  of 
our  goods  for  the  furnishing  of  our  bamboo  cottage  on  Talaguga 
hill,  while  I  was  busy  purchasing  supplies  at  the  trading  house.] 

"Friday,  July  6th.  Packing,  but  sick.  Very  lame  back.  Sat'y, 
7th.  Mr.  Robinson  comes  up  and  helps  pack  books  and  Organ. 
Sab.  July  8th.  Mr.  Robinson  asked  husband  to  preach  again.  He 
does  so." 

To  relieve  Mrs.  Nassau  of  manual  labor  in  our  household,  I  had 
obtained  from  one  of  the  ocean  steamers  a  civilized  coast  man  of 
Accra,  as  cook.  His  experience  as  a  ship's  steward  had  made  him  a 
good  cook.  He  could  prepare  a  dinner  rapidly,  attentively,  and 
without  assistance  or  direction.  We  had  retained  him,  notwith- 
standing his  intemperance. 

When,  on  July  10th,  the  heavily-laden  "Nellie-Howard"  was 
finally  ready  for  our  return  journey  to  Talaguga,  I  was,  as  usual, 
hampered  by  desertions.  My  Galwa  crews,  who  brought  me  down 
river,  with  promise  to  return  with  me,  found  the  abundant  food  of 
their  homes  in  their  own  tribe  and  the  attentions  of  their  villages  too 
strong.  Some  would  always  fail  at  literally  the  last  moment,  and  I 
had  to  get  a  loan  of  men  from  Mr.  Reading  just  for  the  trip,  or  pick 
up  some  incompetent  idler  at  villages  on  the  way. 

This,  for  years,  was  a  distressing  feature  of  my  work  at  Talaguga. 
The  difficulty  with  these  employes  was  not  any  personal  feeling 
against  myself  or  their  tasks  or  their  wages,  but  solely  the  impossi- 
bility of  obtaining  from  the  Fang  of  Talaguga  region  sufficient  va- 
riety or  even  ciuantity  of  food.  Messrs.  Reading  and  Robinson 
kindly  aided  me  by  forwarding  native  supplies  from  the  abundance 
obtainable  in  Kangwe  region;  and  they  loyally  supported  me  by 
refusing  employment  to  any  who  deserted  me. 


126  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Tuesday,  July  10th.  Xo  William.  Men  who  promised  to  come, 
do  not,  save  two.  Stop  at  'South,'  and  find  two  men.  Go  slowly. 
About  10  A.  M.,  struck  by  a  hippopotamus.  Frightened.  Thought 
it  a  rock.  Boat  leaks  badly.  Mr.  Menkel  partially  stops  the  leak. 
At  noon,  Mr.  M.  repairs  it.     Reach  Ermy's  about  7  P.  M." 

In  the  boat  that  day,  besides  Mrs.  Nassau  and  self  and  Mr.  Menkel 
and  his  little  son,  there  were  ten  natives,  viz.:  the  six  crew,  two 
extra  hands,  and  two  little  girls,  Mrs.  Nassau's  pupils  and  personal 
attendants.  The  boat  was  very  heavily  laden  also  with  our  food 
supplies,  hardware,  and  building  materials,  and  Mrs.  Nassau's  precious 
organ  in  its  original  case.  Its  length  exactly  filled  the  boat's  width 
toward  the  stern,  taking  the  space  of  the  stroke  oar  and  preventing 
also  the  handling  of  the  next  oar,  thus  allowing  us  the  use  of  onlj'- 
the  four  other  oars.  It  rested  on  the  stern  sheets,  where  were  sitting 
Mrs.  Nassau,  myself,  Mr.  Menkel,  and  the  three  children.  The  case 
prevented  my  sight  forward.  I,  at  the  tiller  ropes,  could  guide  the 
boat  only  by  the  voice  of  one  of  the  men  in  the  bow.  Wearied  with 
winding  through  the  tortuous  channels  of  the  dry  season  low  water 
(where  also  hippopotami  were  usually  to  be  met),  I  turned  the  boat 
to  the  deeper  water  shoreward.  Suddenly  we  struck;  I  knew  there 
were  no  rocks  there.  But  it  might  be  a  sunken  log.  I  shouted  to 
the  crew  to  double  their  stroke  and  thus  force  the  boat  over  the 
supposed  obstruction.  At  the  same  moment  the  entire  stern  of  the 
the  boat,  with  its  weight  of  six  persons,  the  organ,  and  other  goods, 
was  lifted  bodily  out  of  the  water  by  a  hippo.  I  could  have  touched 
him  as  we  slid  across  his  back.  Evidently  (as  these  animals  are 
amphibious)  he  had  been  lying  hidden  at  that  spot.  Enraged  by  the 
blow  of  our  keel,  he  had  turned  on  us,  as  he  rose,  and  bit  through  the' 
iron  shoe  covering  the  keel  and  also  through  the  boat's  bottom. 
He  did  not  renew  the  attack.  The  crew  rowed  frantically  away,  and 
Mrs.  Nassau's  shawl  temporarily  stopped  the  leak.  A  few  hundred 
yards  beyond,  I  ran  the  boat  ashore  into  the  mouth  of  a  little  creek, 
where  we  stopped  for  lunch.  The  tin  of  the  empty  meat  can  was 
used  as  a  patch  over  the  hole  made  by  the  beast's  teeth.  It  was  a 
merciful  Providence  that  the  animal,  in  its  rage,  did  not  further 
assault  the  boat.     Probably  it  was  as  much  frightened  as  we  were. 

With  the  heavily  laden  boat  and  its  slow  progress,  picking  our 
way  through  winding  channels,  the  second  night  was  passed  at  Mbomi 
village,  and  a  third  on  a  sand  bank. 

"Thursday,  July  12th.  Mamba,  who  had  started  on  Monday, 
stopped  with  us  at  a  sand-bar  beyond  Rere-volo.     Cold;  windy. 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  127 

"Friday,  13th.  Start  at  day-break.  Hear  hippos.  Eat  at 
.     .     .     Reach  Tahxguga  at  4  P.  M." 

At  Talaguga,  Mrs.  Nassau  wrote  of  that  adventure  with  the 
hippopotamus : — 

"While  coming  back  to  Talaguga  in  the  'Xellie-Howard,'  July 
10th-13th,  we  were  in  deep  water  and  fearfully  frightened  by  striking 
on  what  seemed  a  rock.  The  boat  was  tossed  up  out  of  the  water, 
and  we  were  thrown  in  a  heap  on  one  side.  A  boat  thirty  feet  long, 
heavily  loaded  (my  organ  was  in  it)  literally  lifted  out  of  the  water. 
The  lift  into  the  air  might  not  have  been  more  than  two  feet;  but 
that  was  enough.  We  all  supposed  the  boat  broken  in  two.  I 
looked  around  to  find  something  to  catch  hold  of.  When  the  few 
seconds  passed,  long  ones  they  were  to  me  and  to  us  all,  we  found 
ourselves  unhurt,  only  greatly  mixed  up  and  the  boat  floating.  But 
one  of  the  men  cried  out,  'The  boat  sees  pain'  (z.  e.,  is  damaged),  and 
we  soon  saw  the  water  bubbling  around  our  feet.  Two  men,  by  fast 
bailing,  were  just  able  to  keep  the  water  at  a  certain  point.  Either 
we  had  struck,  or  been  struck  by  a  hippopotamus.  The  leaks  were 
caused  by  his  teeth,  as  he  had,  either  in  defense  or  in  anger,  bitten 
into  the  boat. 

"Being  in  deep  water,  the  animal  was  able  to  swim  away  from  us, 
and  we  had  to  row  from  him,  and  fortunately  he  did  not  pursue  us. 
Had  we  been  near  a  sandbank,  the  animal  would  have  more  probably 
continued  his  bites;  as,  when  standing  on  his  feet,  it  is  his  custom  to 
demolish  his  enemies  before  leaving  them.  It  would  have  been  mere 
play  for  him  to  have  cracked  the  boat  to  small  splinters. 

"This  is  the  narrowest  escape  we  have  ever  had  on  the  water, 
and  is  the  first  time  in  ten  years  on  the  Ogowe  that  my  husband  has 
ever  thus  suffered  from  these  brutes,  though  the  crews  have  often 
feared  to  pass  their  haunts.  At  noon,  Mr.  Menkel  was  able  to  stop 
the  leak;  so  that  we  reach  Talaguga  without  more  attacks,  though 
loud  bellowings  and  snorting  one  morning,  as  we  were  lying  on 
a  sandbank,  hurried  our  dressing,  that  we  might  get  out  of  their 
vicinity." 

"Sat'y,  14th.  Busy  putting  things  to  rights.  Mr.  M.  and  son 
with  iron  bed-stead  in  the  dining-room.  Husband  bargains  with 
Njambi  as  cook;  but,  first,  he  leaves  for  a  two  months  vacation.  I 
go  to  the  kitchen,  and  with  Oggningo,  and  Rembili's  help." 

[This  was  the  beginning  of  a  long  year's  trial  with  unwilling 
and  incompetent  kitchen  aid,  than  which  my  constant  efforts  were 


128  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

unable  to  obtain  better.  Occasionally  Mrs.  Reading  sent  a  tem- 
porary loan  of  one  of  her  servants;  but,  as  they  came  only  under 
compulsion,  I  did  not  like  to  retain  them.] 

"Safy^  July  21st.  Baked  cake;  pies  (pumpkin);  made  apple- 
butter  ;  and  had  bread  spoiled  by  the  boys  putting  in  the  oven  the  un- 
raised  bread.  Very  tired;  for,  I  was  over  the  stove  all  the  morning. 
Go  to  Xdoiiamavuna's  village.  Hear  of  Xguva's  coming.  .  .  . 
Mr.  Reading  sends  'Bigman'  to  help  me  cook.  We  accept,  at  first; 
but  the  Husband  decides  No. 

"Sabbath,  July  22d.  Fast,  until  evening.  Prayer  for  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Husband  retains  Bigman.  Made  a  resolve  to  get  ujo  15  or 
20  minutes  earlier,  so  I  can  read  quietly  and  pray." 

The  situation  just  at  this  time  was  very  trying.  Mr.  IMenkel,  who 
came  as  my  assistant,  demanded  to  be  placed  in  unqualified  control 
of  the  new  building  operations  and  the  workmen.  To  hasten  the  work, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  better  house  for  Mrs.  Nassau,  I  yielded.  And 
yet,  so  violently  irascible  was  he  that  the  workmen,  whom  I  had 
obtained  with  so  much  difficulty,  declined  to  obey  him.  One  after 
another,  he  dismissed  them;  and  I  could  obtain  no  others.  His 
boarding  and  laundry  were  also  additional  burdens.  Mr.  Reading 
sent  his  man  Xguva  and  a  crew  of  Galwas  to  help  us  drag  logs  from 
the  forest  during  one  week,  offering  also  another  of  his  emploj'es  as 
cook.  The  conditions  of  the  offer  were  so  humiliating  that  at  first  I 
refused.  But  on  reconsideration,  I  assented  to  any  thing  that  would 
keep  Mrs.  Nassau  from  manual  labor. 

The  site  for  the  new  building  was  not  just  at  that  time  positively 
selected.  But  the  conviction  grew  that  it  should  not  be  on  the  hill- 
side.    It  was  too  wearing  a  climb. 

"Sat'y,  July  28th.  Husband  speaks  of  building  by  water-side. 
We  go  over  to  see  it.  Then,  on  the  way  to  Nyare's  village,  met  the 
man  himself.  Return.  Husband  takes  him  to  see  the  spot,  asking 
to  buy  the  garden  next  to  it.  I  go  to  the  house  and  play  [the  organ] 
for  a  large  company  of  Fang." 

[That  organ  playing  was  a  constant  delight  to  Mrs.  Nassau.  It 
was  made  a  religious  exercise  for  the  frequent  companies  of  Fang 
visitors.  The  music  drew  their  attention;  and  then  she  followed, 
through  an  interpreter,  with  the  gospel  story.  It  was  a  precious 
"sowing  by  all  waters"  that  gratified,  in  the  midst  of  domestic  tasks, 
her  desire  for  direct  missionary  work.] 


1883,    AT    TALAGUGA.  129 

"Sab.  July  29th.  Just  at  supper-time.  Ankombia  came;  brought 
[fish]  net  and  hatchet,  and  got  his  own  axe.  Looked  as  if  he  was 
going  away.  Husband  and  I  went  into  the  woods  for  prayer.  Hus- 
band's text,  'She  hath  done  what  she  could.'  0!  God,  let  it  be  said 
of  me! 

"Monday,  July  30th.  Our  prayer  graciously  answered  in  An- 
kombia's  very  respectful,  humble  behavior  this  morning.  Nothing 
said  of  going  away.  Hamill  and  I  offered  thanks.  No  washing. 
Killed  a  goat;  sent  half  to  'Gov.'  Kerraoul;  one  quarter  to  Laseni, 
who  had  sent  his  men  to  help  to-day.  But,  as  they  came  so  late, 
Husband  did  not  accept." 

[Ankombia  was  a  competent  native  carpenter,  whom  I  employed 
under  my  own  orders.  He  had  difficulty  with  Mr.  Menkel.  Laseni 
was  a  polite  Mpongwe  gentleman,  educated  in  our  Baraka  school  at 
Libreville,  who  was  trading  at  a  village  a  mile  down  river.  He  and 
his  wife  "Ahda"  had  been  members  of  the  Gaboon  church.  Though 
fallen  into  neglect  of  Christain  duties,  they  were  helpful  to  us;  their 
polite  manners  and  excellent  use  of  English  made  them  pleasant 
visitors,  being  the  only  civilized  companions  that  that  African  forest 
afforded-  to  Mrs.  Nassau.] 

"Sat'y,  Aug.  4.  Julius'  birth-day  [her  brother].  .  .  .  Vis- 
ited Nyare's  village.  Praying  for  wisdom  to  provide  food,  &c,  for 
assistants.  Fang  boys  hired  to  bring  water.  [For  ordinary  un- 
skilled labor,  e.  g.,  clearing  premises,  building,  and  travel,  workmen 
could  be  obtained  with  less  difficulty  than  for  the  household  tasks  of 
cooking,  washing,  ironing,  and  water-carrying  from  the  mountain 
brook.] 

"Aug.  5th.  Sabbath.  At  least  47  at  morning  Service.  Many 
thanks.  Played  for  them  [on  her  organ].  Troubled  about  Ozindia 
still.  He  was  at  morning  prayers,  but  not  at  Service.  Was  at  Sab. 
Sch,,  when  peace  was  made  by  Ankombia  speaking  for  him,  God 
has  heard  prayer;  and  my  heart  is  full  of  thanks," 

[Amid  all  the  vicissitudes  of  our  pioneer  life,  Mrs.  Nassau  kept  up 
her  role  of  teacher,  even  if  it  was  teaching  only  our  employes  to  read. 
And  she  regularly  went  to  the  villages  to  pray  with  the  women,] 

"Monday,  Aug.  6th.  While  Muli  was  reading,  the  question  came 
up,  who  shall  do  the  washing?  The  way  seemed  very  dark,  and  I 
was  greatly  troubled.     God  heard  prayer,  and  provided  help.     0! 


130  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

that  I  could  be  taught  to  pray  in  times  of  trouble,  without  murmuring 
or  fretting! 

"Tuesday,  Aug.  7th.  Question  again  was  to  be  met,  who  should 
do  the  ironing?  God  sent  help  in  the  shape  of  Awora,  who  helped 
Bigman.     I  pushed  them  through  before  the  bell  rang. 

"Sat'y,  Aug.  11th.  Wrote  to  Mary  Dickinson  and  sister  Mrs. 
Joseph  Nassau.  Baked  bread,  pies,  and  cake.  As  the,  little  Fang 
boys  did  not  come  to  bring  water,  Oggningo  brought  it  for  the  wash- 
ing. Jobe  and  a  little  Fang  came  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  helped. 
Husband  sick  with  painful  arm.  I  went  to  Nyare's  to  call  them  to 
meeting  to-morrow.  Many  gathered  around  me;  and  I  spoke  a  few 
words  to  them,  through  Mr.  '  Dixon '  [a  Mpongwe  trader].  Ogfiningo 
went  with  me,  and  God  did  not  allow  him  to  be  sick  after  the  big  work 
of  the  day. 

"Sunday,  Aug.  12th.  Husband  a  little  better.  Laseni  and  his 
people  came.  No  Fang,  until  after  Services.  ...  I  read  Phil- 
lipians  after  dinner;  and  God's  Spirit  impressed  most  comfortably 
the  words,  'Be  careful  for  nothing;  but,  in  everything  by  prayer  and 
supplication,  let  your  recpest  be  made  known  unto  God.'  New 
version,  'In  nothing  be  anxious.'  Also,  the  Spirit  helped  me  to 
pray,  that '  this  mind  which  was  in  Christ  might  be  in  me  who  emptied 
himself  and  became  obedient  to  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross.' 

"Monday,  Aug.  13th.  Bigman,  Ogeningo,  and  Rembili  washing. 
Did  very  well.  Evening;  Ozindia  asks  to  go  home.  Husband  lets 
him,  as  he  does  not  recover  health.  Ankombia  left  alone  [at  the 
waterside],  and  he  is  afraid  to  stay  alone,  and  asks  for  permission  to 
come  up  on  the  hill.  Husband  says,  'No,  stay  down;  and,  I  will 
send  one  to  sleep  with  you.'  Hamill  says,  Oggningo;  I  said  Bigman 
(rather  just  the  other  way;  I  said,  O;  Hamill  said,  B.).  I  think 
Husband  never  was  so  short  of  hands.  Only  one  workman,  and  he 
sick,  and  two  boys  and  a  young  man  for  the  building  of  the  house. 
It  does  seem  as  if  God's  hand  was  upon  us  in  judgment.  Certainly, 
this  is  a  time  of  trial.  (Jod  bless  it  to  us  both;  help  us  to  learn  all 
lessons,  to  be  purified.  .  .  .  Nyamba,  who  recently  had  sharp 
words  with  Hamill  about  her  garden,  brought  two  plantains  as  '  v6v6 ' 
[gift,  as  a  peace  offering].  Mr.  Menkel  has  trouble  with  Aleck,  about 
learning  his  lesson. 

"Wed'y,  Aug.  loth.  Began  a  letter  to  Hattie  Tumor.  Baked 
lemon  pies.     Aleck  lost  his  dinner  again,  because  lie  did  not  have 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  131 

his  lesson.  I  took  him  in  hand,  aucl  helped  him.  He  asked  for  food, 
I  seat  him  down  with  some  crackers,  a  note,  and  his  book  to  his 
father. 

"Thursday,  Aug.  16th.  Aleck  was  naughty  in  the  dining-room. 
I  did  not  know  what  to  do  about  it.  I  went  to  village  (Nyare's)  to 
teach,  and  was  kindly  received.  Nyare  had  asked  for  Hamill's  little 
canoe  in  the  morning,  to  go  for  Xyamba,  promising  to  return  to-day. 
The  canoe  was  lent.  ...  In  teaching,  I  draw  the  letters  in  the 
ashes  on  the  ground  [floor  of  the  hut].  Aleck  followed  me  to  the  vil- 
lage; and  I  did  not  send  him  back. 

"Friday,  Aug.  17th.  Aleck  says  he  will  not  do  the  other  things 
again,  if  I  will  let  him  go  to  the  village  with  me.  He  did  not  get 
his  lesson;  and  his  Papa  would  not  let  him  go.  I  went.  Belinga 
learned  well.      In  singing,  they  hummed  with  me.      Felt  encouraged. 

"Aug.  20th.  Answer  to  i^rayer,  in  OgSningo's  sudden  recovery. 
Washing  done ;  and  all  feeling  well.  Kids  lost;  Husband  found  them. 
Thanks,  O!  Lord,  for  the  work  done. 

"Tuesday,  21st.  I  ironed,  though  I  felt  very  little  like  doing  so, 
as  I  slept  poorly,  because  of  chigoes  last  night.  Bigman  finished 
in  P.  M.  Every  one  feels  so  comfortable.  O!  Lord,  I  thank  Thee 
for  this  good  health  and  good  spirits." 

[The  chigoe  (frequently  mis-called  "jigger"),  a  very  small  red  flea, 
was  introduced  to  Africa  in  1872  by  a  vessel  sailing,  in  sand  ballast, 
from  Central  America  to  St.  Paul  de  Loanda.  It  being  unlawful 
to  empty  ballast  into  the  harbor,  it  was  carried  ashore.  Whence, 
the  insects  have  spread  all  over  the  African  continent.  They  may 
attack  any  part  of  the  body,  but  chiefly  the  feet,  and  especially  the 
toes,  burrowing  under  the  skin  and  depositing  a  sac  of  eggs,  which, 
if  allowed  to  remain  and  develop,  produce  painful  ulcers.  No  amoimt 
of  personal  cleanliness  prevents  their  attacks,  though  daily  care  does 
lessen  their  numbers.  Fortunately,  the  two  rainy  seasons  are  de- 
structive to  them,  but  they  propagate  in  the  dry.] 

"Thursday,  Aug.  23d.  Went  to  the  villages.  Pleased  with  the 
people  who  crowded  around  me,  and  repeated  the  alphabet  and  Lord's 
Prayer  and  Catechism  after  me.  Bigman  went  with  me.  Xyamba 
just  returned  from  fishing. 

"Friday,  Aug.  24th.  Nyare  and  Ndonamavufia  and  some  20  men 
came  before  breakfast,  2  Mpongwe  traders  also,  to  ask  Doctor  to  help 


132  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD, 

in  a  'palaver'  with  the  French.  The  French  had  shot  into  a  canoe 
belonging  to  Nyare,  killed  one  man,  and  seized  the  goods  belonging 
to  the  traders.  They  did  not  know  the  reason.  Husband  consented 
to  go.  Nyare 's  fiery  speech.  Hamill  went  in  the  'Swan.'  Just  after 
they  had  gone,  the  'Gov.'  Kerraoul  came,  and  also  a  canoe  from 
Andgnde,  telling  of  Mrs.  Reading's  illness.  She  had  been  blind  for 
24  hours.  Was  a  little  better.  A  most  touching  letter  from  Mr.  Read- 
ing, telling  of  Ma  Reading's  last  request  for  brotherly  love,  and  mes- 
sages of  love  to  me.  Felt  very  much  the  shock,  and  the  sorrow,  and 
the  pain,  and  suspense.  Wanted  to  go  down  right  away.  'Gov.' 
Kerraoul  distressed  because  of  the  'palaver';  cause: — the  firing  of 
a  gun  in  the  air  in  order  to  stop  the  Fang.  All  things  returned.  Nyare 
much  pleased.  We  hear  that  the  Benaygl  clan,  to  which  the  dead 
belonged,  say  nothing  but  blood  will  satisfy  them,  and  threaten  to 
fire  on  any  white  man's  canoe. 

"Sat'y,  Aug.  25th.  Husband  went  to  the  villages  to  call  men  to 
take  him  to  Kangwe  on  Monday.  Many  promise!!  Prepare  food 
and  clothing  [for  the  journey]. 

"Monday,  Aug.  27th.  Husband  again  calls  the  men.  Only  ten 
come.  Hurried  starting.  ...  At  night,  I  was  very  tired.  Slept 
poorly.  Dreams.  [I  went  to  Kangwe  by  canoe  with  a  large  crew, 
the  object  being  simply  haste  to  be  of  any  possible  medical  aid  to 
Mrs.  Reading,  and  not  with  the  expectation  of  returning  with  any 
load  of  goods.    I  left  Mr.  Menkel  still  at  Talaguga  with  Mrs.  Nassau.] 

"Wed'y,  Aug.  29th.  In  answer  to  prayer,  Rembili  stopped  his 
groans;  and  (though  not  working  to-day  with  his  sprained  hands) 
the  work  has  been  done,  and  I  am  not  sick.  Especially,  I  thank  God 
for  OgSningo's  patient  water-getting.  Went  to  the  villages.  Every 
one  busy,  buying  [and  selling]  ivory.  It  is  only  God  who  gave  the 
men  to  Husband ;  for,  their  own  wishes  arc  to  be  here  at  home  where 
ivory  is.  No  one  came  to  me  as  I  sat.  Finally,  a  few  little  girls  came. 
Then,  as  I  sang,  quite  a  number  of  men  came,  repeated  after  me  the 
letters  and  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  a  few  questions  in  the  Catechism. 
All  go  to  bed  happy. 

"Aug.  30th.  Very  tired  to-night.  .  .  .  Went  to  village 
to-day;  only  little  folks.  Still,  some  men,  strangers,  came  and  repeated 
after  me  the  letters,  &c. 

"Sept.  1st.  .  .  .  Washed  pantry  floor  also.  Rembili  said  he 
was  sorry  I  did  it.     Ogdningo  was  very  pleasant  about  the  water; 


1SS3,    AT    TALAGUGA.  133 

and  I  feel  so  relieved.  I  haA-e  wiped  dishes  all  along,  since  Rembili's 
lame  hand.  Mr.  Menkel  had  a  little  disturbance  with  Ankombia, 
who  refused,  at  first,  to  work.  .  .  .  Been  reading  and  enjoying 
(Life  of)  ]\Iadame  Benson. 

"Sab.  Sept.  2nd.  A  very  quiet  day.  .  .  .  Read  Conybeare 
and  Howson  (Life  of  St.  Paul).  Hope  my  Husband  has  had  as  quiet 
a  tlay  as  I  have. 

"Tuesday,  Sept.  4th.  I  finished  the  ironing,  and  was  completely 
worn  out  with  it.  About  11  P.  M.,  we  heard  Husband's  rifle  [my 
Winchester  signal  on  a  night  journey].  He  comes  back  with  the  good 
news  of  Mrs.  Reading's  life,  though  she  is  very  weak.  .  .  .  The 
affliction  of  Mrs.  Reading  brings  to  us  all  a  quiet  blessing,  as  if  she 
were  to  us  a  messenger  of  love  from  God  to  us,  and  brings  us  all  much 
nearer  each  other." 

In  her  anxiety  to  be  of  any  aid  to  her  sick  friend,  Mrs.  Nassau 
and  I  started  in  the  little  "Swan,"  on  Friday,  September  7th,  for 
Kangwe.  We  would  have  gone  sooner,  had  I  been  able  to  obtain 
a  crew  and  had  Mr.  Menkel  been  willing  to  remain  alone  at  Talaguga. 
On  his  finally  consenting,  we  started  with  only  two  Fang;  just  at  the 
last  moment  two  others  stepped  into  the  boat.  We  slept  that  night 
at  Belambila.  Resuming  the  journey  next  day,  we  met  two  trading 
canoes  (an  English  and  a  German,  each  led  by  a  white  man)  when  we 
were  only  fifteen  miles  from  Kangwe.  They  handed  us  letters,  which 
told  us  that  Mr.  and  INIrs.  Reading  had  left  for  Libreville  to  seek  a 
steamer  to  England  and  the  United  States.  So  we  turned  the  boat 
back  to  our  home,  rested  over  Sabbath  at  Belambila,  and  reached 
Talaguga  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  September  11th. 

On  the  way  back,  Mrs.  Nassau  had  a  trying  experience.  During 
the  whole  route,  going  and  returning,  we  were  in  constant  anxiety 
not  for  ourselves,  nor  even  for  our  crew,  but  the  Fang  crew  were  not 
used  to  long,  steady  work  at  the  paddles;  they  needed  constant 
urging.  Also,  the  recent  killing  by  the  French  had  made  all  the 
tribes  excited,  and  the  Fang  clans  were  not  at  jDeace  even  with  them- 
selves. For  our  white  selves,  we  would  have  stopped  in  any  clan 
and  at  any  village  as  our  convenience  dictated.  But  again  and  again 
some  one  or  other  of  the  crew  would  object,  saying  that  it  was  not 
safe  for  him  to  be  seen  at  such-or-such  a  village. 

So  for  our  noon  lunch  on  the  Tuesday  we  had  stopped  at  the 
shaded  mouth  of  a  creek,  a  large  village  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
broad  stream,  but  none  near  us  on  our  side.     After  our  meal,  Mrs. 


134  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

Nassau  went  alone  to  a  quiet  spot  across  the  creek,  with  her  Bible 
and  other  books  for  reading  and  prayer. 

During  our  rest,  a  canoe  had  come  from  the  other  side,  but  we 
did  not  encourage  their  presence,  and  they  left.  (One  of  our  com- 
pany afterwards  said  that  they  had  not  spoken  well  of  our  crew.) 
When  I  called  Mrs.  Nassau  to  resume  our  journey,  she  hastily  took 
up  her  shawl  and  other  articles,  but  forgot  the  books.  We  had  gone 
some  two  miles  before  she  discovered  her  loss.  Her  Bible  was  a 
precious  souvenir.  Against  the  anger  of  the  crew  at  the  additional 
time,  extra  work,  and  apparent  return  to  a  dangerous  neighborhood, 
I  turned  the  boat  back.  Annoyed  at  the  slow  progress,  I  put  the 
boat  ashore  and  ran  down  the  bank  alone,  Mrs.  Nassau  following 
slowly  with  the  boat.  While  I  was  away,  voices  called  to  her  across 
the  stream  from  a  canoe.  She,  not  understanding  what  they  said, 
had  to  use  almost  force  to  compel  the  crew  to  be  silent  and  keep  at 
their  paddles.  Arrived  at  the  nooning  spot,  the  book  was  gone! 
I  returned  with  the  distressing  news  to  my  wife,  who  was  then  in 
tears.  As  I  resumed  the  tiller  ropes,  that  canoe  was  observed,  ap- 
parently in  pursuit  of  us.  I  had  no  fear,  but  my  crew  were  in  terror. 
When  we  were  overtaken,  the  canoe-men  handed  me  the  precious 
Bible;  said  they  had  returned  to  our  nooning  spot  out  of  curiosity, 
had  found  the  books,  and  had  called  to  the  boat  to  wait  for  them. 
But  their  kindness  had  been  misunderstood.  I  rewarded  them  lib- 
erally.    But  the  whole  affair  had  been  very  distressing. 

By  this  time  I  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  better  household  aids, 
and  Mrs.  Nassau's  actual  manual  labors  were  lessened  by  two  new 
young  men,  civilized  Galwas,  to  whom  also  she  gave  daily  lessons, 
thus  gratifying  her  special  tastes  of  what  had  been  her  intended  life 
work  as  a  teacher. 

"Thursday,  Sept.  20th.  Wrote  to  sister  Bella  ;  and  to  Mrs.  Read- 
ing [in  the  United  States].  Read  'Young  Mrs.  Jardinc/  in  after- 
noon, instead  of  going  to  the  village  or  teaching  my  own  boys. 
The  going  to  the  villages  is  a  trying  thing;  but,  there  is  no 
excuse  for  me  in  this  waste  of  time.  Doctor  taught  Alundo  sylla- 
bles (or  tried  to)  without  first  pronouncing  them.  I  felt  it  could 
not  be  done." 

[I  agree  with  her  fecHiig.  The  idea  of  that  mode  of  teaching  to 
read  was  my  own;  I  had  not  heard  or  reatl  of  it,  though  it  is  now 
used  in  so  many  schools  in  the  United  States.  With  me  it  was  only 
an  experiment.  I  have  no  belief  in  or  patience  with  it  as  a  proper 
mode  of  instruction.] 


18S3,    AT    TALAGUGA.  135 

On  September  21st,  Mr.  Menkel  with  his  httle  son  left,  saying 
that  he  would  return  and  build  the  new  house  six  months  later.  It 
was  well.  Mrs.  Nassau  had  spent  much  care  on  the  motherless 
little  boy.  But  the  situation  was  anomalous;  she  was  given  no  au- 
thority, yet  she  was  expected  to  control  the  child.  And  her  views 
of  child  training  could  never  have  coincided  with  the  father's.  As 
to  the  preparations  for  the  building  of  the  new  Station  dwelling, 
the  crisis  had  become  extreme.  I  could  do  nothing  the  while  that 
my  visitor  demanded  unqualified  control  of  my  workmen,  who 
resented  his  methods,  and  who,  rather  than  submit  to  them,  were 
constantly  deserting  me.  Precious  months  had  been  lost,  the  dry 
season  weather  of  June  to  September  (which  is  not  obstructed  by 
rainy  days);  I  had  lost  otherwise  willing  workmen;  Mrs.  Nassau's 
irenic  spirit  had  been  grieved;  and  I  knew  that,  for  the  simple 
work  of  felling  trees  and  squaring  logs  for  sills,  sleepers,  &c.,  I  was 
quite  competent.  The  parting  was  amicable.  Mr.  Menkel  offered 
to  return  and  do  the  actual  carpenter  work  of  the  house  erection. 

"Sat'y,  Sept.  22d.  Went  to  Nyare's  village;  passed  it,  on  to 
Ndonamavuna's,  and  walked  on  a  log  bridge  to  get  there.  No  very 
good  attendance  or  attention;  but,  they  promised  to  come  to-mor- 
row. 

"Sab.,  Sept.  23d.  Had  a  slight  chill  before  dinner.  Went  to 
bed  on  the  lounge.  Rain  in  the  morning.  Laseni  and  wife  came 
in  afternoon.  Husband  had  religious  ser\dces,  preaching,  instead 
of  Sab.  Sch.  I  was  much  impressed  for  Laseni.  Alida  came  in,  and 
I  prayed  with  her. 

"Monday,  24th.  Slept  poorly.  Dressed,  read  considerable. 
Husband  started  for  Yeiia  [for  building  materials].  Boys  did  all 
the  washing.     Mbigino  very  kind. 

"Sat'y,  Sept.  29th.  Husband  not  able  to  go  to  the  villages. 
Feel  much  distressed  because  of  our  inability  to  do  more. 

"Sunday,  Sept.  30th.  A  very  quiet  and  pleasant  day.  Perhaps 
15  Fang  came.  Earnest  i^rayer  for  God's  Spirit. to  incite  us  to  more 
labor  for  Him.  Husband  spoke  forcibly,  in  evening,  from  Ps.  66.18. 
'  If  I  regard  iniquity  in  my  heart,  the  Lord  will  not  hear  me.' 

"Oct..  1st.  Husband,  although  not  well,  has  gone  to  Yena.  .  .  . 
Read,  in  Sir  Henry  Holland's  'Recollections,'  of  his  habit  of  using 
the  fractions  of  time,  in  the  midst  of  his  professional  and  social  labors. 
.     .     .     Husband  returned  about  7.45  P.  M. 


136  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Oct.  3d.  These  are  very  quiet  restful  days.  I  do  think  I 
feel  the  influence  of  my  morning  reading  before  [Station  public] 
prayers.  O!  God,  I  thank  Thee  for  all  Thou  art  doing  for  me  in 
showing  Thyself  to  me.  Lieut.  Montaignac  called,  on  liis  way  to 
Gaboon,  with  dispatches,  &c.,  to  act  as  dejjuty  in  surveying  points 
along  the  coast.  He  was  very  kind  and  gentlemanly.  He  gave  me 
two  (native)  knives,  and  a  bow  and  arrow,  and  fetish.  We  gave 
coffee,  and  sent  with  him  a  few  tins  of  food. 

"Assigned  the  articles  in  box  to  be  sent  to  America,  and  their 
destination.     Headache.  ■ 

"Tuesday,  Oct.  9th.  Husband  and  I  thinking  of  these  days  two 
years  ago.  Ironing  done  with  Alundo's  help.  Husband  writing 
letters.  I  disturb  him.  Headache,  but  otherwise  quite  well.  [I 
was  writing  anniversary  marriage  verses  for  her,  and  she  had  "dis- 
turbed" in  a  playful  attempt  to  discover  what  I  was  keeping  so 
secretly.] 

"Wed'y^  Oct.  10th.  Second  anniversary  of  our  marriage.  He 
handed  me  the  following  result  of  his  interrupted  writings  of  yester- 
day. .  .  .  Decided  to  invite  Laseni  and  wife  on  Hamill's 
birthday,  the  12th.  He  says,  'on  our  sailing-day.'  I  said  nothing, 
only  thought.  [And  then  she  lovingly  planned  a  feast  for  my  birth- 
day anniversary,  the  11th;  but,  mistaking  the  day,  arranged  for  the 
12th,  our  sailing-day.] 

"Oct.  12th.  Friday,  I,  first  thing,  this  morning,  wished  the 
Husband  all  the  good  things  possible  on  his  birth  day;  when  he  told 
me  the  birth-day  was  past.  I  was  dumb.  Still,  I  went  on  with  the 
day.  First,  tried  to  bring  name  and  date  out  in  the  potato-cake. 
That  'poem'  Husband  found  difficulty  in  reading.  Laseni  came 
about  11  A.  M.  I  had  made  my  pies  good.  Printed  name  and  year 
on  them.  Made  meat-pie.  Put  name  on  it.  Played  on  organ  and 
flute  [my  accompaniment].  Had  prayer  before  Laseni  left  about  5 
P.M. 

"Oct.  13th.  I  wrote  to  Mr.  [Rev.  Dr.]  Wynkoop  for  prayer  [cards]; 
and  a  letter  to  sister  Bella,  in  the  morning.  Went  to  the  villages  at 
3  P.  M.  Heard,  as  usual,  Alundo,  for  half  hour.  Am  abstaining,  not 
fasting,  desiring  God's  blessing.    Read  Macaulay's  England. 

"Sunday,  Oct.  14th.  Quiet  day.  I  read  memoir  of  George  Thom- 
son [pioneer  of  Victoria,  Kamerun].  At  least  30  Fang  came  to  the 
porch.    Ho  glad  that  Hamill  could  speak  to  them. 


1SS3,    AT   TALAGUGA.  137 

"Wed'y,  Oct.  17th.  This  day  heavy  rain,  and,  really,  the  first  of 
the  Season.  About  3  P.  M.,  two  shots  were  fired,  and  we  thought  we 
heard  a  steamer.  Husband  went  to  Xyare's  village,  and  found  the 
'Okota,'  Mr.  Schiff,  a  French  Pere,  and  three  other  white  men.  The 
Captain  brought  to  us  the  mail,  a  large  box,  and  Njambi  and  his 
brother.  In  the  evening,  the  five  gentlemen  called.  The  Pere  very 
polite  and  talked  kindly  to  me,  but — .  He  talked  against  the  [Ga- 
boon] Commandant  and  Administrator  Kerraoul.  We  received  38 
letters,  19  each;  40  papers,  at  least.  Read  partly  only,  as  I  was  so 
tired.  Xews  of  Hattie's  (little  Hattie)  [her  motherless  niece]  death. 
[With  our  knowledge  of  Papal  machinations,  we  discounted  any  pro- 
fessions from  Roman  Catholic  individuals.] 

"Thursday,  Oct.  18th.  Finished  reading  letters  this  A.  M.  .  .  . 
Read  article  in  Harper's,  'The  Romanoffs.'  Received  yesterday  F.  R. 
H.'s  'Royal  Commandments,  or,  Morning  thoughts  for  King's  ser- 
vants, and  'Kept  for  the  Master's  use.'  Much  touched  by  Mr. 
Ozanne's  letter  and  gift.  [Mr.  Ozanne,  of  Ohio,  a  stranger,  a  generous 
friend  of  missionaries.] 

"Sunday,  Oct.  21st.  Did  not  sleep  well.  Laseni  came.  I  read 
May  No.  of  Wommi's  Work  for  Women,  with  the  yearly  Report  from 
the  Board.  Weighed  down  with  the  thoughts  of  the  little  work  done 
by  us. 

"Oct.  22d.  Monday.  Threatening  rain,  early;  but,  sun  in  P.  M. 
I  read  Macaulay.  Am  surprised  at  the  honor  Macaulaj^  gives  to 
Cromwell. 

"Oct.  26th.  The  two  house  boys  took  down  and  dusted  the  books 
from  the  shelves  near  the  bath-room.  After  I  had  heard  the  boys' 
lessons  at  4  P.  M.,  I  went  down  to  the  site  of  the  new  house.  For 
the  first  time,  walked  over  the  log  [crossing  the  brook].  Rain  came. 
In  rushing  up  the  hill,  I  completely  lost  my  breath  and  strength. 
Njambi  in  the  Inquiry  Class,  after  Praj^r-meeting;  but,  too  loud 
talking  for  the  right  spirit. 

"Thursdaj^,  Nov.  1st.  'Tis  night;  Prayers  are  over.  Boys  on  the 
porch  absorbed  in  their  slates.  I  have  written  three  letters.  Had 
chicken  for  dinner;  good.  Yesterday,  Mbigino  promised  to  remain 
with  us  a  year  at  $9  per  month.  Direct  answer  to  prayer.  The  Spirit's 
power  was  felt  forcibly  to-night.  I  do  think  we  both  are  growing  in 
spiritual  things. 


138  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Sat'y,  Nov.  3d.  Talked  with  Husband  about  the  work  in  the 
river,  as  he  desires  '  to  go  on '  [into  the  interior].  Finishing  my  mend- 
ing. Heard  Ahmdo.  Read  Macaulay.  Went  to  Xdonamavuiia's. 
Mwalele  [a  native  trader]  very  poHte.  Two  men  in  the  house;  very 
attentive.  One  asked,  'That  man,  whose  body  has  gone  to  dust,  has 
his  spirit  gone  up?'  all,  with  many  gestures.  Also,  'When  the  spirit 
goes  to  God's  Town,  will  it  have  food?'  Heard  the  low  moaning  of 
some  mourner,  widow  of  the  man  spoken  of.  Husband  stopped  at 
Nyare's  village;  I  came  on  home  in  the  'Swan.'  Found  Mbigino  had 
made  toast  of  some  bread  left  in  the  box;  and  also  that,  in  playing, 
he  had  spoiled  one  of  our  tubs  of  water.  He  confessed,  himself. 
Heavy  rain  to-night. 

"Sunday,  Nov.  4th.  Very  quiet  day.  A  head-man  with  his  wife 
here  to  Service;  and  70  Fang,  I  should  judge.  Read  miss'y  maga- 
zines all  day.  Last  night,  Alundo  asked  to  join  the  (Inquiry) 
Class.  Thanks,  for  so  much  better  health  to-day  than  last  week's 
Sabbath." 

[The  man,  Nyare,  of  whom  I  had  bought  the  Talaguga  premises 
and  whose  village  lay  nearest,  less  than  quarter  of  a  mile  down  river 
on  the  same  side,  had  become  an  exceedingly  uncomfortable  neighbor. 
Naturally  of  a  quarrelsome  and  domineering  nature,  he  seemed  to 
have  misunderstood  my  quiet  demeanor.  He  became  exacting  in 
demands,  was  jealous  of  favors  I  gave  to  the  heads  of  other  villages, 
and  became  offensive  in  a  police-like  inspection  of  all  canoes  that 
came  to  visit  me.  Trading  canoes  going  up  river  had  hard  work 
forcing  their  way  past  a  swift  current  in  front  of  his  village.  He 
thus  had  a  clear  opportunity  to  observe  who  the  crews  were  and  what 
their  canoes  contained.  They,  after  reaching  the  quieter  water  at  the 
mouth  of  my  mountain-brook,  liked  to  rest,  eat  their  lunch,  and  sell 
or  buy  with  me.  Also,  I  valued  the  opportunity  to  preach  to  them. 
If  I  could  not  go  everywhere,  it  was  my  interest  to  attract  people  to 
me.  But  Nyare  acted  in  a  piratical  way,  demanding  fine  or  tribute  of 
these  canoes  if  he  could  make  any  sort  of  claim  for  debt  or  due  from 
the  clan  or  tribe  of  any  personally  innocent  member  of  the  visiting 
crews.  I  had  often  protested  against  his  making  these  demands 
on  my  premises.  Native  custom  made  these  travelers  my  "guests;" 
and  universal  native  law  required  every  host  to  protect  any  guest 
(even  a  guilty  one)  at  any  cost.  Neighboring  tribes  began  to  cease  to 
stop  at  my  place,  fearing  Nyare's  demands.  There  came  a  day  when 
I  threw  aside  the  (luiet,  pacific  role  and  asserted  myself  and  the  Mis- 
sion's right.] 


1883,    AT   TALAGUGA.  139 

"Tuesday  Nov.  6th.  Eventful  day.  Mbigino  was  offered  liberty 
to  stay  iu  his  house;  instead,  he  went  to  work.  Njagudembo's  people 
[in  two  canoes]  came,  about  3  P.  M.  Three  [of  our]  Fang  were  still  at 
work.  Mv61a  helped  with  [the  translation  of]  the  Catechism.  About 
5  P.  M.,  Nyare  and  13  of  his  men  came  rapidly  [to  the  water-side], 
all  carrying  guns.  The  Fang  [visitors]  left  the  jDorch.  Doctor  took 
his  rifle,  and  went  down  the  hill.  This  fact  was  called  down,  and 
startled  the  [Nyare 's]  people.  Hamill  went  directly  to  Nyare,  and 
ordered  him  off  the  place.  Their  guns  clashed,  and  Hamill 's  hit  Nyare 
on  the  head.  Whereupon,  he  was  very  angry.  They  were  separated, 
and  each  held  by  others  [of  the  thirteen].  Hamill  ceased  to  struggle 
[for  I  felt  the  hands  were  friendly],  and  was  soon  loosed.  But,  Nyare, 
for  almost  an  hour,  thrashed  around,  held  by  two,  three,  or  four  men 
[of  his  own  people].  When  his  gun  was  taken  from  him,  he  drew  a 
large  knife.  That  taken  from  him,  he  picked  up  sticks  of  wood  and 
any  thing  he  could  touch.  I  never  saw  such  raging.  I  was  frightened, 
when  the  husband  had  started  with  his  gun,  and  continued  in  great 
distress  all  the  time.  I  could  do  nothing  but  pray.  After  a  time,  I 
went  below  half-way  to  the  hut  [at  the  water  side],  and  stood  there  a 
long  time.  Mbigino  stood  by  Hamill.  All  the  other  employes  were 
away.  Njagudembo's  people  did  not  stand  by  Doctor  [in  his  defence 
of  them]!  They  [actually]  wanted  to  give  up  the  gun  which  Nyare 
had  come  for.  Really,  they  did  hand  it  to  him;  when  the  principal 
man  who  was  holding  Nyare  snatched  it  from  the  latter,  and  said, 
'No!  Nassau  is  angry;  he  tells  us  not  to  talk  the  palaver  here.' 
Finally,  I  was  so  weary,,  seeing  no  near  end,  and  not  wanting  the 
darkness  to  drive  the  people  away,  wrote  [a  note]  asking  if  it  would  be 
well  to  threaten  [appeal  to  the]  French.  Doctor  did  so.  The  people 
did  not  move.  Then  Hamill  came  up  the  hill  for  the  [boat-house] 
key  for  the  'Swan.'  He  was  met  on  the  way  down  by  one  who  said, 
'Sit  down,  sit  down;  it  is  finished!'  'No,'  said  Hamill,  'not  until  you 
leave.'  Ntula,  who  had  held  Hamill,  met  him  at  the  foot  of  the  hill, 
saying, '  Sit  down !  sit  down!'  'No;  not  till  o/^  go.'  They  very  rapidly 
left;  and  all  was  over.  But,  so  excited  we  were!  Still,  it  was  not 
mere  excitement,  but  the  real  presence  of  God  that  made  us  trust, 
and  take  so  much  comfort  in  Him.  Hamill  went  to  bed  at  mid-night; 
I,  early,  so  tired. 

"Wed'y,  Nov.  7th.  No  more  disturbance.  But,  early,  Hamill 
went  to  the  Administrator  [at  the  Poste].  Amvam  [one  of  the  thir- 
teen] and  two  other  men  came  on  the  i^orch.  I  did  not  salute  them; 
shut  the  windows.  Finally,  Amvam  asked  where  'Nassau'  was.  I 
said,  'Gone  to  the  Governor.'  ^He  exclaimed,  'Ah-h-h!'     When  he 


140  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

told  me  that  the  men  wished  to  sell  'bush-rope'  (rattan),  I  told 
him  I  did  not  want  to  buy;  and  shut  the  door  in  his  face.  Then  he 
went  to  the  village;  and  soon  I  heard  sounds  of  great  excitement. 
Xdonamavuna  came  to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  asked  if  he  might 
come  U13.  I  made  no  reply;  went  on  cleaning  a  coat.  Soon,  he 
took  courage,  and  came  up.  Said  he  had  been  sent  by  Nyare.  Asked 
why  'he'  (Nassau)  had  gone  to  the  'Governor.'  He  said  he  was  a 
friend  of  Nassau's.  I  assented.  Soon,  he  said  he  would  go  to  his 
village,  and  when  he  saw  'Nassau'  come  back,  he  would  come  with 
a  goat,  &c.  [as  propitiatory  gifts].  Husband  returned  about  1  P.  M., 
was  met  by  Mwalele  [the  Mpongwe  trader]  who  asked  why  he  went; 
and  feared  that  if  he  (the  'Governor')  was  to  fire  on  the  village,  the 
Fang  would  come  on  himself  [in  revenge].  Husband  said  he  had 
gone  only  to  ask  counsel  as  to  the  'mpana'  (way),  in  case  of  another 
assault.  He  came  up  about  2  P.  M.,  ate  very  little.  Talked,  read, 
and  had  prayer.  The  crew  rested  the  remainder  of  the  afternoon.  In 
evening,  studied  the  Sab.  Sch.  lesson.  I  made  jelly-cake  to  send  to 
the  Administrator  next  day." 

[Mrs.  Nassau's  conduct  in  this  trying  affair  showed  wonderful 
wisdom  and  self-control.  I  did  not  know  that  she  had  followed  me 
down  the  hill.  She  had  stood  silently  praying  while  I  was  fighting. 
Had  she  spoken  or  screamed  or  rushed  intcf  the  swaying  mass  of  men, 
I  would  have  weakened.  Not  until  Mbigino  handed  me  her  little 
penciled  note  did  I  know  that  either  he  or  she  were  near ;  and  victory 
was  already  in  sight,  all  of  Nyare's  own  people  being  on  my  side. 
As  a  result,  I  never  had  another  contest  with  Nyare  or  any  other  chief. 
My  position  was  assured.  The  report  of  my  action  spread  far  and 
wide.  It  was  one  of  the  best  days'  work  I  had  done  at  Talagug'a. 
Clans  and  tribes  fifty  and  one  hundred  miles  away  heard  of  it  and 
felt  assured  that  they  would  be  safe  under  my  protection  if  they 
visited  me.  They  did  thus  visit,  and  I  thus  preached  to  thousands 
whom  I  would  never  otherwise  have  met.  Thenceforward,  my 
canoes  were  safe  on  any  part  of  the  river,  even  in  war  time.  Nyare 
made  many  efforts  to  re-establish  our  "friendship"  by  offer  of  gifts. 
I  resumed  my  occasional  favors  to  him,  but  for  a  while  refused  to 
receive  any  thing  from  him.  He  felt  it  deeply;  and  the  effect  on  the 
public  was  very  impressive] 

"Nov.  10th.  ]\Ions.  Michclez  and  Mons.  Lestour  called  just  after 
dinner;  30  canoes  in  their  company.  I  sent  with  them  two  jjump- 
kin  pies,  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  several  tins.  Was  sorry  afterwards 
that  I  had  not  gotten  diiuier  for  them.     [The  arrival  of  these  gentle- 


18S3,    AT    TALAGUGA.  141 

men  just  at  that  time  was  only  a  coincidence,  but  it  impressed  Nyare 
greatly.  They  were  just  arrived  from  the  far  interior  French  Post 
of  Lestourville.  They  and  all  the  white  men,  French  officials  and 
German  and  English  traders  and  small  river-steamer  captains,  gen- 
erally made  it  a  point  to  call  on  (as  one  of  the  Germans  called  Mrs. 
Nassau)  "the  Lady  of  the  River."  And  in  return  I  kept  at  the 
waterside  a  pile  of  wood,  ready  cut  into  billets,  for  the  free  use  of 
those  steamers;  and  they  constantly  gave  us  free  transportation. 
The  only  one  of  them  all  from  whom  we  received  any  unkindness  was 
Administrator  de  Kerraoul,  in  his  forbidding  Mrs.  Nassau  to  journey 
into  the  interior  in  1883  and  in  his  refusing  me,  in  1884,  permission  to 
journey  even  three  miles  up-river  from  my  house.  In  both  cases,  I 
have  always  believed  that  his  actions  were  taken  at  the  dictation  of 
Roman  Catholic  priests,  in  their  desire  to  limit  our  work.  For,  his 
orders  were  subsequently  rescinded  by  his  superior,  Governor-Count 
P.  S.  de  Brazza,  in  writing;  and  Messrs.  Ballay  and  Lestour  each; 
separately,  called  and  said  that  Kerraoul's  acts  were  "mistakes." 
But  those  statements  came  too  late.] 

"Sunday,  Nov.  11th.  .  Feel  sick;  feverish.  Laseni  came  after 
Sab.  Sch. ;  and,  before  he  left,  we  heard  a  steamer  whistle.  Our  wood 
gone,  and  Sabbath  too!  And,  here  is  the  'Okota,'  perhaps  with 
lumber  [for  the  new  house]  for  us!  But,  Mr.  Schiff  and  a  Frenchman 
came  off;   stayed  to  tea;   and  no  work  was  done.     Was  so  thankful. 

"Monday,  Nov.  12th.  Lumber  for  house  brought  very  early. 
Schiff  did  not  come  off  again.  I  watched  the  steamer  with  the  glass 
from  my  bed.  Dressed  for  dinner;  but  stayed  in  bed  all  the  time. 
[With  the  "Okota"  came  Metyeba,  a  skilful  native  carpenter  from 
Benita,  who  successfully  took  up  the  work  Mr.  Menkel  had  laid 
down.] 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  13th.  Washing;  went  very  well  as  to  time. 
Am  about  as  yesterday.  Oppressed  with  fear  I  must  suffer  all  the 
time  I  stay  in  Africa.     O!   God,  help. 

"Thursday,  Nov.  15th.  Feel  a  little  stronger.  Did  not  get  up 
until  after  breakfast,  when  Husband  bro't  me  my  breakfast,  as  he 
has  done  all  this  week.  Wrote  up  the  diary  to-day.  [With  ]\Irs. 
Nassau's  constitutional  reticence,  it  is  possible  that  she  had  not  in- 
formed me  of  all  her  feelings.  I  thought  it  an  ordinary  fever.  Per- 
haps she  did  not  herself  recognize  all  the  symptoms.  I  thought  of 
them  nine  months  later.] 


142  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Monday,  Nov.  26th.  .  .  .  Mwalele  also  said  the  Adminis- 
trator [Kerraoul]  had  enacted  the  law  that  no  Fang,  utangani  (white) , 
or  Ayogo  (civilized  natives),  should  pass  beyond  Njoli  island  [two 
miles  up-river,  beyond  Talaguga];  but  that  all  Fang  from  above  must 
come  down  with  their  own  ivory.  Washing  went  grandly;  boys 
pleasant.  Taught  as  usual.  Read  Mpongwe  in  the  morning.  Sewed 
a  little  on  my  'pajamas,'  for  the  trip  up  to  Okanda,  rather  Okota 
[twenty  miles  up-river]." 

[Mrs.  Nassau  was  joyfully  looking  to  the  prospect  of  a  Station 
farther  toward  the  interior;  insisted  that  she  should  share  with  me 
the  initial  experience  of  the  selection  of  its  location.  And,  under  the 
necessity  of  travel  by  canoe,  was  arranging  her  dress,  in  order  to 
eliminate  superfluous  and  inconvenient  skirts.  But  her  hopes  were 
never  permitted  to  be  realized.  As  we  had  not  been  officially  in- 
formed of  the  reported  interdict,  we  continued  to  make  short  visits 
up-river.] 

"Wed'y,  Nov.  28th.  We  think  of  going  to  the  Fang  villages 
above  us.  Had  water  brought  at  noon,  and  hurried  the  boys  with 
their  work.  Started  from  the  house  soon  after  1.30  P.  M.  Took 
OgSningo,  Alundo,  Rembili,  and  Orunguna-Galwa.  I  forgot  the 
hymn-books;  so,  we  turned  back  after  just  starting.  Must  have 
been  2  o'clock  when  we  really  got  off.  Many  kinds  of  nuts,  some  like 
whortle-berries,  shape  of  pecans;  small  yellow  fruit;  red  berry;  a 
convolvulus;  white  pea-shaped  flower;  others,  in  spikelike  bunches, 
the  petals  very  irregularly  elongated,  the  stamens  protuded  like  a 
tongue.  Dark  clouds  came  up,  making  us  hurry.  Passed  beyond  Njoli 
island,  and  Messieurs  Michelez's  and  Moiitaignac's  home-islands, 
and  reached  the  village  at  4.15,  having  been  2i  hours  [for  the  four 
miles].  Greeted  by  a  stranger,  who  asked  if  the  quarrel  with  Nyare 
was  finished.  Hamill  said  he  did  not  know  Nyare.  Went  up  the 
steep  bank;  met  many  people.  Quite  a  large  village;  Bindube  people. 
Passed  the  fa-st  'public'  house,  and  went  on  to  the  second.  People 
soon  gathered.  One  young  man  went  to  a  hut  near,  and  asked  for 
a  shirt  and  smoking-cap.  Put  them  on  in  the  street,  2  caps,  new  belt, 
new  cloth,  and  new  and  exceeding  much  dignity,  too  much  for  even 
audible  words.  Soon,  another  man  came,  whom  we  took  to  be  the 
(real)  head-man.  Just  as  we  began  to  sing,  the  '  Dignity '  called  for 
a  tin  whistle;  entertained  us  with  his  music.  As  the  rain  threatened, 
we  soon  left;  but  stopped  by  request  to  sit  down.  Finally,  started. 
Was  met  by  an  old  man,  who  said,  that,  as  we  had  visited  him,  we 
must  not  go  away  without  a  gift.     After  getting  into  the  boat,  the  two 


18S3,    AT    TALAGUGA.  143 

came,  and  with  much  ceremony,  gave  a  chicken,  promising  to  come 
to  our  'town'  in  two  days  (?).  Came  tlown  the  river  grandly. 
Reached  home  about  5.15  P.  M. 

"Dec.  1st.  Sat'y.  Yesterday,  pay-da}',  passed  off  very  nicely. 
.  .  .  We  started  for  Laseni's  about  3  P.  M.  Metyeba  and  Xjambi 
went.  .  .  .  Alida  cool  in  her  reception,  particularly  to  Ede- 
bwani  [Metyeba's  wife].  Kekeya  [the  little  daughter]  came  to  me. 
Alida  asked  why  we  brought  the  'egara'  [box  of  goods].  Husband 
said,  'To  buy  plantains.'  She  said  there  were  none.  This,  after 
Laseni's  having  said  it  would  be  well  to  come  and  buy,  was  a  little 
trying.  Husband  went  up  the  little  hill  with  the  two  young  men. 
I  stayed  behind.  Saw  how  the  free,  jovial,  careless  life  around  the 
traders  was  so  much  more  to  the  taste  of  the  natives.  Tho't  of  having 
prayer  with  Alida,  but  hesitated,  and  did  not.  Husband  came 
back,  with  seeds  of  the  gourd  'nganda.'  Alida  offered  to  make 
us  some  nganda  (pudding).  Left,  and  on  the  way  home,  when 
Metyeba's  strong  hand  was  seen  in  our  rapid  motion,  we  gathered 
flowers;  the  white  corolla,  elongated  pistils  and  stamens;  the 
purple  cup-shaped,  from  a  vine  on  the  rock;  the  fine  white, 
tinged  with  reddish-yellow  clusters,  shedding  so  numerously  its 
many  yellow  pistils  on  the  river.  [The  pleasure  of  such  trips  was 
sometimes  marred  by  finding  the  unfaithfulness  of  the  workmen 
whom  I  had  left  at  the  Station  during  our  absence.  Because  they 
had  been  "only  playing,"  they  did  not  always  accept  the  rebuke  I 
gave  them.] 

"Sunday,  Dec.  2d.  I  wait  all  day,  hoping  Mbigino  would  go  to 
Doctor  to  ask  pardon  for  his  disrespect  of  last  evening.  He  does 
not  come ;  and  I  go  to  the  kitchen  after  supjDer,  and  talk  to  him.  He 
acts  respectfully  to  me,  but  fears,  and  is  too  jDroud  to  go  to  the 
master.  After  prayers,  he  does  go;  and  I  am  so  thankful.  God 
be  praised!  [The  explanation  of  some  of  these  family  difficulties 
is  that  we  did  not  treat  our  employes  simply  as  servants.  We 
gave  them  parental  interest  and  expected  filial  respect.  Some  of 
the  natives  failed  to  apj^reciate  this.  Other  men,  who  established 
their  household  arrangements  on  a  somewhat  military  basis,  often 
obtained  better  service  than  we.  But  they  never  obtained  the 
affection  we  reaped.] 

"Tuesday,  Dec.  4th.  Ironing  finished,  but  not  with  the  nicety 
I  would  like.  Prayer-meeting.  Working  on  my  river  suit;  find  the 
dress  will  not  furnish  enough  material  for  all  parts. 


144  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"  Wed'y,  Dec.  5th.  Two  years  ago  we  arrived  in  Libreville.  Have 
been  studying  M^Dongwe  earnestly  lately.  Ripped  up  the  polonaise. 
Alida  sends  two  jjlantains  to  us." 

[As  the  carpenter  Metyeba  had  come  to  the  river  originally  on  my 
sister's  invitation,  she  claimed  him;  and,  to  our  regret,  he  left  on 
December  12th.  But  two  days  later  three  Galwa  men  came,  one 
of  whom,  the  church  elder,  Nguva,  was  a  competent  carpenter,  who 
had  obtained  his  very  first  knowledge  of  tools  from  me. in  1876.  Mrs. 
Nassau  records  her  thanks  for  the  timely  aid.] 

"Dec.  11th.  Laseni  sent  word  to-day  that  to-morrow  he  would 
send  a  canoe  to  the  [Lembarene]  trading-houses.  So,  Metyeba  and 
wife  will  go  to  sister  Bella  in  it.  They  both  seem  so  very  quiet; 
something  is  in  their  hearts,  but  we  can  not  find  out  what  it  is.  The 
dog  came  just  at  supper  time;  we  tied  him,  in  order  to  get  him  away 
from  the  Fang  [who  had  wounded  him]. 

"Wed'y,  Dec.  12th.  Metyeba  left  before  Prayers.  Husband  an- 
noyed at  Njambi  because  of  his  not  finishing  a  certain  work.  I  plead 
for  him.  Hamill  not  pleased  because  I  did  so;  nevertheless,  he  did 
not  punish  him. 

"Tuesday,  Dec.  ISth.  Ironing;  finished  very  well.  I  go  to  the 
Spring  after  supper  [for  prayer].  Filled  with  comfort  and  strength, 
I  thought;  then  came  back  to  be  distressed  and  cast  down  by  Hamill 's 
refusal  to  give  a  little  gift  to  Bwelo." 

[That  spring  was  a  beautiful  spot  chosen  by  Mrs.  Nassau  for  her 
private  communings  with  the  Master.  My  workmen  sometin*ies 
played  on  her  tender  feelings  by  extra  attention  to  her  in  hope  of 
condoning  offenses  to  myself.] 

"Wed.,  Dec.  19th.  I  find  it  hard  work  to  read  my  appointed 
portion  in  the  morning  in  the  midst  of  the  cares  of  the  work.  Some-" 
times  I  wonder  if  I  do  right  to  read.  I  do  think  if  I  could  study  for 
that  time  it  would  be  better.  God  help  me  to  derive  all  the  strength, 
all  the  life,  all  the  light,  all  the  love,  that  He  would  have  me,  from 
the  Word.  .  .  .  Laseni  sent  some  plantains.  Thus  God  is  help- 
ing us  to  food. 

"Fri.,  Dec.  21st.  This  morning,  at  Prayers,  Nyare  came  near 
the  house,  looking  for  his  goat,  and  scolding  about  it.  About  9  A.  M., 
Nyare  and  a  company  of  some  20  people  came  loading  a  goat.     Hus- 


1883,    AT    TALAGUGA.  145 

band  said,  'He  is  coming  to  make  reconciliation.'  We  went  to  the 
dining-room  for  prayer.  Yesterday,  the  mail  had  come  from  Kangwe 
and  Gaboon,  per  launch  'Ewafa';  and  Laseni  sent  it  around  per 
Walker's  [a  mulatto  trader]  boy,  also  a  basket  of  onions,  and  a  tin 
of  pine-apples.  This  morning  early.  Husband  sent  the  employes 
with  100  pieces  of  fire-wood  for  the  launch,  and  with  the  few  letters 
we  had  written.  The  crew  returned  just  as  Husband  was  ready  to 
talk. 

"Nyamba  brought  two  bunches  of  plantains  also.  Hamill  spoke 
of  the  drawing  of  the  knife  on  him;  took  the  goat  for  that.  Then 
spoke  of  our  dog's  being  cut  [which  was  denied  by  Nyare  as  being 
done  by  his  people].  Nyare  promised  to  keep  all  'palavers'  from 
our  grounds;  and  he  and  Nyamba  went  with  Hamill  to  mark  the 
outlines  with  a  [temporary]  rattan  'bush-rope.'  (The  goat  broke 
loose  twice).  When  Hamill  returned,  and  all  was  settled  rightly, 
we  again  knelt  and  gave  thanks.     Both  very  tired. 

"Sunday,  Dec.  2-3d.  Very  quiet  day.  Perhaps  20  present  [in- 
cluding Nyare  himself].  I  went  to  the  spring  after  dinner,  for  prayer. 
.  .  .  Husband's  text  in  A.  M.  'Whosoever  shall  leave  house  or 
lands  etc.,  for  my  name's  sake  &c.'     Spoke  in  Fang  too. 

"Tuesday,  Dec.  25th.  Could  not  help  feeling  the  difference  be- 
tween the  day  here  and  what  it  is  at  home.  Hamill  distressed  at 
my  'blue'  face;  which  was  made  more  troubled  by  Mbigino  using 
one  of  our  spoons  and  plate  in  eating  his  rice.  I  told  him  he  must 
buy  the  spoon.  He  had  no  money;  so,  I  lent  it  to  him.  I  will  see 
if  he  will  pay  his  debt  without  being  asked  or  told  to  do  so.  Wrote 
to  Mrs.  Perkins,  or,  rather  finished  the  copy.  Husband  criticises  my 
blind  and  incomplete  sentences." 

The  first  draft  of  that  letter  is  before  me.  It  gives  a  succinct 
report  of  the  preceding  six  months'  life  at  Talaguga.  I  copy  some 
items  that  refer  to  statements  I  have  already  cjuoted  from  her  diary : — 

"It  is  hard  to  realize  that  nearly  eight  months  have  passed  since 
my  last  letter  was  written  to  you.  But,  the  seven  months  are  long, 
since  the  reception  of  my  last  epistle  from  1334,  written  by  my  almost 
cousin,  and  altogether  much-loved,  'H.  M.  J.'  [Miss  Hannah  M.  John- 
son]. The  fact  that  we  are  in  Africa  was  never  more  forcibly  felt 
than  this  morning;  a  Christmas  without  any  of  the  attendant  excite- 
ment and  pleasures  which  crowd  around  you. 

"The  Rains  were  upon  us  at  that  time.  May  passed;  and  June, 
with  the  advancing  Dry  Season,  brought  to  our  workmen  a  restless- 


146  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

ness  which  did  not  wane  until  but  one  remained,  besides  our  house- 
hold servants.  .  .  .  The  thoughtful  kindness  of  Mrs.  Reading 
relieved  me  in  this  distress,  for  more  than  a  month,  by  sending  to 
me  one  of  her  well-trained  helpers.  Previous  reports  have  told  you 
of  the  difficulty  we  have  in  securing  food  for  our  workmen ;  this  has 
been  one  cause  of  the  inability  to  man  our  Station.  In  a  wonderful 
manner,  God  has  supplied  that  need,  the  food  often  coming  from 
most  unexpected  sources.  This  is  a  thankful  acknowledgment  of 
our  Heavenly  Father's  care  for  one  of  our  greatest  temporal  wants. 
In  the  midst  of  those  unquiet  and  often  tr3dng  days,  effort  was  made 
for  stated  and  daily  study  of  both  Mpongwe  and  Fang  languages." 
[She  describes  also  the  visit,  in  June,  to  De  Brazza's  encampment 
of  fifty  canoes  and  1000  men.]  "It  was  then,  De  Brazza  repeated 
his  assurance  that  the  prohibition  against  white  men  passing  up  the 
river  to  the  Interior  did  not  include  the  missionary ;  and  even  offered 
the  protection  of  his  soldiers,  if  we  would  accompany  him  that  day! 
.  .  .  December,  when  we  hojDed  to  make  our  visit  to  Okota, 
the  unknown  beyond,  visited  by  none  of  our  missionaries  since  Dr. 
Nassau  two  years  ago.  The  desire  is  not  only  to  visit,  it  is  to  remain 
and  teach.  During  Husband's  visit  there,  he  was  charmed  with 
the  people,  their  expressed  desire  to  learn,  their  superior  houses, 
apparent  docility  and  intelligence,  their  freedom  from  the  roving 
disposition  which  makes  our  Fang  so  difficult  to  reach.  Said  Fang 
have  been  very  unimpressible.  Their  fierceness  and  fearlessness 
give  a  hardness  to  their  character,  which,  united  with  their  readiness 
to  break  up  home  and  move  villages  every  year  or  two,  and  their 
absorbing  covetousness,  renders  our  work  among  them  slow  and  not 
satisfactory.  The  indifference  and  cruelty  of  these  peof^le  no  doubt 
strengthen  our  desire  to  go  to  those  more  willing  to  accept  our  message. 
The  climate  [of  the  interior]  we  judge  to  be  purer.  The  closely- 
piled  mountains  which  at  Talaguga  shut  out  from  us  the  entire  hori- 
zon, there  stretch  out  into  beautiful  rolling  prairies.  Surely,  there 
is  also  in  our  hearts  an  answer  to  the  stirring  question  of  Dr.  Ellin- 
wood,  'Why  don't  you  jDUsh  right  on?'  We  a7^e  ready  to  push  on; 
but,  there  are  no  hands  untied,  either  to  go  on  or  to  relieve  us  of 
the  work  here  just  begun.  This  Station  must  be  firmly  established 
and  wisely  carried  on,  for  the  success  of  those  (to  be)  farther  up  the 
river. 

"December  has  come;  but  we  have  been  again  unable  to  (ind 
a  crew  to  take  us  to  Okota.  We  now  look  forward  to  June  '84. 
[Alas!]  When  in  De  Brazza's  camp,  we  came  upon  two  Roman 
Catholic  priests;  thu:<  'while  the  (French)  Government  restricts  and 
embarrasses  that  church  at  home,  it  nevertheless  seeks  to  build  it 


1S.S3,    AT   TALAGUGA.  147 

up    in    the  ends    of    the  earth.     .     .     .     Jesuits,  at  a  long  range, 
are  desirable.' 

"I  wrote  to  Miss  Johnson  of  the  papers  so  trying  to  the  Mission 
received  from  the  Commandant  at  Libreville.  Since  then,  we  have 
received  a  permit  to  build  on  these  grounds,  from  the  Administrator 
of  the  first  Military  Station  above  us,  called  Njoli.  Since  that  time, 
the  same  official  has  told  us  that  the  position  of  Talaguga  was  a 
matter  of  dispute  between  himself  and  the  Gaboon  Commandant, 
each  claiming  it  as  belonging  to  his  own  jurisdiction.  Also,  that 
a  French  gun-boat  was  soon  to  come  to  decide  the  question.  If  we 
be  put  in  the  Gaboon  District,  our  permit  is  invalid;  and  troubles 
may  arise.  We  await  the  gun-boat.  .  .  .  You  have  heard 
of  our  narrow  escape,  when  on  the  home  journey  [in  July]  from  the 
hippopotamus.  .  .  .  The  months  of  August  and  September, 
were  painful  to  us,  because  of  our  helplessness.  Mr.  Menkel  here, 
but  unable  to  carry  on  the  work  of  building,  because  workmen  were 
so  few." 

[She  describes  her  regular  visits  to  the  villages  and  her  efforts 
at  teaching  there,  and  my  Saturday  afternoon  village  jDreaching. 
And  Mrs.  Reading's  distressing  sickness  and  dej^arture  to  the  United 
States.] 

"The  assertion  made  to  me  by  an  educated  physician,  while  in 
America,  'niggers  have  no  souls,'  is,  I  hope  too  strong  an  expression 
for  the  body  of  christians  at  home.  But,  I  have  wondered :  Do  our 
supporters  believe  in  the  success  of  God's  work  among  negroes? 
Many  are  interested,  deeply,  in  the  opening  of  the  mysteries  of  the 
Dark  Continent.  Interest  in  the  inhabitants  of  a  strange  land  is 
one  thing;  belie\'ing  prayer  for  the  success  of  God's  word  in  that 
land  is  another.  We  do  not  plead  want  of  gifts,  or  personal  inter- 
est; we  do  feel  the  want  of  confidence  among  friends  at  home,  in 
the  power  of  God's  word  among  these  degraded  ones." 

[Mrs.  Reading  reached  England  and  the  United  States  in  safety, 
but  was  never  able  to  come  back  to  Africa.  Mr.  Reading  promptly 
returned  to  his  post  at  Kangwe. 

[In  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  between  the  tribes,  it  was  not 
safe  to  leave  our  house,  with  its  accumulated  goods  (really  few,  in 
our  economical  view,  but  wealth  to  avaricious  natives).  So  I  placed 
my  four  workmen  and  two  household  lads  in  strict  charge  and  watch, 
and  attempted  the  down-river  joui-ney  with  three  weak  hands,  sim- 
ply floating  down  river,  taking  two  and  one-half  days  for  a  journej 


148  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

that  could  readily  be  made  in  one  with  a  proper  crew.  To  encour- 
age the  six  whom  I  left  behind,  I  promised  them  rewards,  which  I 
allowed  them  to  name,  and  of  which  I  took  a  careful  list  in  order  to 
purchase  them  at  Lembarene.] 

"Wed'y,  Dec.  26th.  Busy  packing  and  putting  things  to  rights. 
Husband  spent  a  long  time  (long  to  me,  tired  as  I  was)  in  taking  down 
the  wants  of  the  employes ;  then,  in  giving  to  them,  goods  to  buy 
food  with.     Very  tired,  but,  all  ready. 

"Thurs.,  Dec.  27th.  Start  at  8.05  A.M.  with  Mbigino  [a  lad] 
Oggningo  [a  little  boy]  and  Origo  [a  young  man],  the  latter  sick  with 
boils  on  leg  and  back.  [And  this  a  crew  for  a  boat  thirty  feet  long, 
six  feet  beam,  whose  usual  propulsion  was  by  six  long  oars!  I  took 
this  boat,  for  it  would  be  needed  to  bring  back  supplies ;  and  I  trusted 
to  be  able  to  obtain  new  recruits  as  a  crew  from  Kangwe.]  Reach 
Laseni's  in  twenty  minutes.  He  puts  in  a  little  boy  who  was  very 
quiet,  very  helpless.  Ate  at  the  village  where  we  once  saw  the  stolen 
canoe  'Kangwe.'  Stopped  at  Njagudembo's  new  town.  Saw  a 
man  in  stocks.  Slept  in  N's  little  8x7  room;  door  hardly  large 
enough  to  admit  our  httle  food-box.  Two  fires  near.  Smoke;  heat; 
next  morning  Husband  said  my  hair  had  grown  gray. 

"Friday,  Dec.  28th.  Started  fairly.  Ate  at  Belambila.  Reached 
[a  trading-house  adjoining]  Fetish  Point  about  5  P.  M.  Were  kindly 
received  by  Sinclair's  [native]  trader.  His  two  rooms  with  nice  bed, 
and  table,  high,  and  swept  fairly  clean,  were  like  palaces,  after  our 
experience  of  last  night. 

"Sat'y,  Dec.  29th.  When  at  the  mouth  of  Ngunye,  I  saw  a  hippo 
before  us;  soon  it  rose,  with  the  entire  back  exposed  almost  near 
enough  for  our  oars  to  touch  it.  Were  frightened.  Reached  Andgnde 
about  10  A.  M.  Mr.  Robinson  well.  Expect  Mr.  Sinclair  and  Mr. 
Schiff  for  dinner  [respectively  the  English  and  German  trading  agents 
at  Lembarene].  I  make  a  pudding.  Sister  Bella,  and  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Harding  come.  I  was  very  tired.  Mr.  Robinson  complains  of  fever, 
in  evening.    He  sleeps  in  the  room  that  was  Mrs.  Reading's. 

"Sab.,  Dec.  30th.  Husband  preaches  to  the  audience  of  only  40, 
all  from  AndSnde.  Mr.  Robinson  takes  charge  of  Sab.  Sch.;  after 
which,  he  says  he  has  dangerous  symptoms.  Sits  down  at  supper- 
table,  but  soon  leaves  and  goes  to  his  couch." 


18S3,    AT    TALAGUGA.  149 

That  was  the  beghining  of  a  sickness  that  compelled  Mr.  Robin- 
son to  save  his  life  by  going  to  America.  And  before  he  returned, 
Mrs.  Nassau  herself  had  passed  away. 

This  visit  to  Kangwe  was  no  vacation  rest  for  either  of  us.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Robinson's  sickness,  and  for  the  few  days  until  Mr.  Read- 
ing's return,  I  had  to  take  entire  charge  of  Church  and  Station,  and 
Mrs.  Nassau  of  the  Andfinde  household. 

Mrs.  Nassau  and  I  made  out  our  semi-annual  order  for  pro- 
visions and  supplies  for  a  year  ahead,  i.  e.,  allowing  six  months  for  the 
going  and  delays  in  coming  of  the  order,  and  that  it  should  arrive 
before  our  stock  on  hand  should  be  exhausted. 

In  Mrs.  Nassau's  note-book  I  find  a  list  of  168  letters  written  by 
her  during  1883,  to  relatives,  friends,  in  the  United  States,  fellow 
missionaries  and  natives.  She  was  interested  also  in  keeping  account 
of  all  my  various  journeys  during  the  year,  long  or  short.  I  find  a 
record  of  over  1500  miles  for  1883,  even  though  I  was  so  hampered 
by  house-building. 


150  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

1884,  Motherhood. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  Mission  and  Presbytery  for  the  year  1884 
were  held  at  Kangwe.  Very  few  members  came  from  the  other  Sta- 
tions, the  distances  being  long  and  means  of  travel  uncertain.  And 
meetings  were  distressing  in  the  confused  condition  of  Kangwe.  Mr. 
Reading  had  arrived  on  January  2d,  1884;  and  immediately  resumed 
his  charge  of  the  Station.  Unfortunately,  a  violent  hostility  against 
him  had  developed  among  the  station  employes,  who  met  his  return 
with  mutiny. 

At  Presbytery  there  was  exactly  the  legal  quorum,  three  ministers 
and  several  elders,  that  quorum  being  obtained  by  our  organizing  at 
Mr.  Robinson's  sick  bedside.  Though  our  subsequent  sessions  were 
held  in  another  room,  no  parliamentary  notice  was  taken  of  his  absence. 
Rev.  A.  C.  Good  arrived  after  Presbytery  had  adjourned;  and,  fail- 
ing of  the  little  river  steamer,  borrowed  my  "Nellie-Howard,"  in 
which  to  return  to  Gaboon.  In  Mission  Meeting,  the  full  legal  quorum 
was  maintained.    And  at  its  close  Mr.  Gault  took  away  Mr.  Robinson. 

"On  Jan'y  2d.  Mr.  Reading  arrived  from  England;  also  Rev. 
W.  C.  Gault,  associate  of  Rev.  C.  DeHeer  of  Benita.  They  found  at 
Andgnde  house,  Mr.  Robinson,  very  low  with  Fever  in  its  most  dan- 
gerous form;  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Nassau  in  temporary  charge  of  the 
Station,  and  acting  also  as  physician  and  nurse.  With  them  (Messrs. 
R.  and  G.)  came  a  native  Elder  from  Gaboon,  and  5  from  the  northern 
field;  gentlemanly  christian  men  they  all  appeared  to  be.  .  .  . 
That  week  passed  slowly,  filled  with  watchings  and  anxieties.  Sab- 
bath the  6th,  brought  an  interrupted  Communion,  the  comfort  of 
which  was  greatly  lessened  by  the  very  apparent  coldness  and  pride 
of  many  native  christians;  which,  on  the  following  Monday,  culmina- 
ted in  a  cruel  desertion  of  all  workmen,  save  three,  from  the  Station, 
leaving  us  strangers,  with  perhaps  a  dying  man  on  our  hands,  to  care 
for  ourselves.  Providence  kindly  so  ordered  that  a  native  visitor 
was  with  us  who  took  the  place  of  the  cook;  until  the  deserters,  seeing 
their  folly  and  wrong,  returned,  begging  to  be  received  back.  .  .  . 
Next  Tuesday,  our  "vacation"  will  close,  and  we  start  for  the  Tala- 
guga  home.  A  strange  vacation  it  has  been,  between  the  joy  of 
meeting  native  friends  and  fellow  christians,  then  cut  to  the  heart  by 
their  cruel  desertion;  greetings  of  welcome  from  dear  fellow-mission- 


1S.S4,    MOTHERHOOD.  151 

aries,  followed  by  farowells  spoken  by  pallid  lips,  and  so  feebly  spoken 
that  we  fear  lest  those  tones  will  never  again  be  heard  by  us."  [Mr. 
Robinson  did  return,  married;   but  Mrs.  Nassau  was  gone!] 

Before  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Xassau  had  adopted  the  Giving  of  the 
Tenth.  She  continued  it  in  Africa.  I  do  not  know  who  "handed" 
the  "check"  to  her.  Perhaps  myself,  as  her  share  of  the  balance  of 
our  year's  salary.  She  continued  in  Africa,  by  prayer,  sympathy,  and 
actual  share  of  church  duty  and  responsibility,  her  connection  with 
the  Holmanville  church  of  her  uncle,  Rev.  Isaac  Todd.  I  find  the 
following  account: — - 

"Check  handed  to  me,  Jan'y  15th,  '84 $55.00 

Mother $10.00 

Uncle's  salary 10.00 

Miss'y.  Soc'y  of  Holmanville 3.58 

For.  Miss 5.00 

Home  Miss 5.00 

Relief 3.00 

Freedmen 2.00 

Ch.  Erection 2.00 

Education 2.00 

Publication 1.00 

Returned 11.42 


$55.00    $55.00" 

The  maternity,  for  which  in  1883  Mrs.  Nassau  had  prayed,  was 
now  to  be  granted.  If,  in  her  habitual  reticence,  she  had  omitted 
to  tell  me  of  signs,  or  if,  in  inexperience,  during  December  (and  per- 
haps in  November)  she  had  failed  to  see  and  did  not  recognize  the 
significance  of  a  revolution  on  which  she  was  entering,  it  was  ob- 
vious, now  in  January,  that  she  was  to  become  a  mother.  How 
bitterly  she  missed  the  sympathy  of  ]\Irs.  Reading!  The  latter  had 
joined  with  her  in  her  wish  for  motherhood,  and  had  promised  to  be 
with  her,  to  advise  and  help,  in  all  its  stages. 

The  next  to  whom  Mrs.  Nassau  should  turn,  as  a  repository  of  her 
happy  secret,  would  naturally  be  her  sister-in-raw\  But  my  sister, 
having  deliberately  chosen  for  herself  the  single  life,  had  caused  it  to 
be  understood  that,  as  she  "knew  nothing  about  babies,"  she  could 
render  no  aid,  adding  an  expression  of  her  opinion  that  children  in  a 
missionary's  household  were  a  hindrance  to  mission  work.  We  then 
turned  to  Mrs.  Ogden,  of  Baraka  household.  That  she  came  from 
the  same  part  of  New  Jersey  as  did  ]\Irs.  Nassau,  suggested  a  slight 


152  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

claim  beyond  that  of  missionary  sistership.  Especially  also  as,  a 
year  previously,  while  she  was  at  Benita,  she  had  generously  in- 
sisted on  taking  a  risky  sea  journey  of  ninety  miles  in  a  small  open 
sailboat,  in  order  to  be  present  at  Libreville  with  Mrs.  Good  in  her 
confinement.  There  she  had  given  laborious  and  devoted  care  to 
both  mother  and  child,  although  there  were  present  besides  the  French 
surgeon,  two  other  mission  ladies,  and  an  available  number  of  civilized 
native  Christian  women,  competent  as  midwives  and  nurses.  We 
thought  she  would  recognize  Mrs.  Nassau's  greater  need,  and  asked 
her  to  come.  The  end  of  September  was  named  as  the  latest  expected 
date.  But  she  was  to  be  looked  for  earlier,  because  of  the  need  of 
sjonpathy  and  companionship,  and  also  because,  during  the  long  dry 
season  (June  to  September)  the  little  steamers  plying  between  Ga- 
boon and  Ogowe  did  not  run  at  frequent  intervals.  Mrs.  Ogden  kindly 
promised  to  come.  As  her  services  were  to  be  only  those  of  a  friend, 
I  would  save  her  from  anything  manual,  and  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Ibia 
j'Ikenge,  the  native  pastor  on  Corisco  island,  to  engage  for  me  the 
very  best  educated  native  Christian  lady  he  could  find  in  his  con- 
gregation, as  nurse  for  the  expected  babe. 

Whatever  hesitation  Mrs.  Nassau  may  have  had  about  the  inter- 
pretation of  certain  physical  symptoms,  of  which  she  had  hitherto 
spoken  or  written  (I  find  in  her  diary)  of  "pains"  "fatigue,"  "weari- 
ness," "uncomfortable,"  &c.,  and  as  to  which,  even  later,  she  seemed 
to  have  some  doubt,  I  determined  to  leave  nothing  to  uncertainty. 
I  wrote  to  a  certain  Dr.  Adam,  a  physician,  of  Liverpool,  who  for- 
merly had  lived  on  the  West  African  coast.  Without  specifying 
what  or  how  much,  I  gave  him  carte  blanche  to  send  everything  of 
infant  food,  clothing,  medicine,  and  appliances  that  he  would  deem 
necessary  for  a  lady  in  confinement  in  Liverpool. 

We  started  back  to  our  Talaguga  on  January  22d,  being  assisted 
most  of  the  way  by  being  towed  by  a  trader's  launch  that  was  towing 
his  own  sailing  vessel. 

On  Wednesday,  February  13th,  Mrs.  Nassau  had  to  make  a 
journey  down-river  by  herself.  In  our  native  "dug-out,"  but  with 
a  strong  crew  of  seven,  she  went  to  Kangwe,  to  have  witnessed  before 
the  French  Post  Commander  at  Lambarene,  as  notary  public,  a 
deed  for  some  property  willed  to  her  by  a  deceased  friend  in  the 
United  States.  It  was  not  mine,  and  I  could  be  of  no  legal  use  to 
her;  and  we  did  not  think  it  safe  that  both  of  us  should  again  be 
absent  from  the  Station  at  the  same  time. 

To  save  her  from  that  journey,  we  had  gone  to  Moiis.  Kernvoul 
at  the  Njoli  Frcncli  Poste,  to  ask  him  to  give  his  official  seal  to  the 
statement  of  fad   tliat  the  "M.  B.  F."  named  in  the  deed  was  the 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  153 

same  as  the  "M.  B.  F.  N."  whose  signature jvas  refiuired.  He  re- 
fused, saying  that  he  was  not  a  notary  pubHc. 

In  order  to  make  the  journey  in  one  day,  and  thus  avoid  having 
to  sleep  on  the  way,  Mrs.  Nassau  started  at  half-past  four  of  the 
morning.  Neither  she  nor  I  were  afraid  of  the  natives  on  the  way. 
After  my  fight  with  Nyare,  we  were  safe  anywhere.  But  there  were 
other  dangers.  It  was  very  brave,  a  lone  woman,  going  out  in  the 
darkness  of  that  hour,  on  the  sixty-five  mile  trip  to  Kangwe.  Next 
day  some  trade  canoes  coming  up-river  reported  to  me  that  they  had 
met  her  on  the  way.  And  the  following  day  Mr.  Menkel  arrived 
from  Libreville,  bringing  me  my  "Nellie-Howard."  He,  too,  reported 
having  met  Mrs.  Nassau  on  the  way.  She  had  had  a  successful 
journey,  though,  through  fear  of  rain,  not  made  in  one  day.  She 
returned  safely  in  her  own  kongongo,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Reading's 
"Montclair,"  and  new  recruits  of  workmen  for  me,  and  supplies. 

In  a  letter  to  me,  written  at  Kangwe,  she  described  that  ven- 
turesome journey: — 

"Feb'y  14th,  1884.  Kangwe  W.  A.  We  met  Mr.  IMenkel  some 
little  distance  above  Belambila.  He  told  me  Mr.  Reading  had  gone 
to  Gaboon.  At  this,  I  was  troubled ;  of  course,  did  not  think  of  going 
back,  but  came  on  feeling  some  uncomfortable.  We  hope,  before 
Mr.  Menkel  reaches  you,  j^ou  will  have  heard,  through  Mr.  Gibson 
[an  English  trader],  that  Mr.  R.  did  not  go  to  Gaboon. 

"But,  I  will  go  back  to  the  beginning.  W>  passed  Laseni's  at 
4.55  A.M.;  Sanjala,  5.45;  Yena,  6.35;  Sambunaga's,  at  7.15.  There, 
we  were  told,  by  the  people  on  shore,  to  avoid  the  Fang  village  just 
above  Mamaga's;  that  this  village  had  fired  on  and  wounded  some 
of  Laseni's  people;  and  many  other  messages  which  I  could  not 
understand.  The  crew  were  some  troubled,  and  kept  on  the  same 
side,  crossing  just  as  we  passed  Rere-volo.  We  reached  Nkogo  creek, 
8.38;  and  stopped  to  eat,  a  little  below,  and  opposite  side  of  Njagu- 
dembo's  town,  at  10.30.  We  pushed  off  at  11.40,  spending  only  a 
little  more  than  an  hour.  Ermy's,  at  3.55  P.  M.  There  was  the 
'Falaba.'  I  hurried  the  crew  to  her,  to  ask  passage  down;  when  I 
learned  that  she  would  not  leave  until  next  day..  Soon,  dark  clouds 
gathered  in  the  west,  and  thunder  rolled  heavily.  I  began  to  be 
troubled  about  deciding  whether  to  stop  or  go  on.  The  crew  began 
to  tire  and  lag.  Finally,  decided  to  stop  again  at  Fetish  Point. 
Reached  there,  5.10.  The  clouds  soon  scattered,  without  giving  any 
rain.  [It  was  the  hot,  drj'  season — January  and  February.]  But, 
of  course,  I  stayed,  having  once  stopped.  The  people,  or  rather, 
the  man,  Igw6ra  [a  native  trader]  were  very  kind.     He  gave  me  the 


154  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

same  room  we  had  before.  The  people  were  more  noisy  than  before; 
but,  I  slept  fairly.  Started  this  morning,  without  eating  anything, 
at  6.30.    Reached  Andende,  8.30  A.  M. 

"Mr.  Reading  was  much  frightened  when  he  saw  me,  and  felt 
sure  the  Husband  must  be  dead.  I  felt  tired,  of  course.  Sister  Bella 
and  Mr.  R.  most  earnestly  urge  me  to  remain  for  the  "Okota;'  which, 
as  he  calculates,  will,  at  the  farthest,  reach  Talaguga  9  days  later. 
I  must  confess  that  I  am  tempted  to  do  so;  particularly  as  Mamba 
[Mr.  Reading's  best  employe]  can  not  go  up  with  me.  Mr.  R.  does 
not  dare  to  send  him,  as  he  will  go  down  to  Gaboon  with  him,  should 
the  French  '  Corporal '  again  catch  his  run-away  man.  [Mr.  Reading 
had  been  assaulted  by  a  native,  had  had  him  arrested,  the  man  had 
escaped,  and  Mamba  was  the  only  native  witness  on  whom  Mr.  Reading 
could  depend  in  the  prosecution.]  ^Ir.  IMenkel  will  tell  you  the  story 
of  this  '23alaver.' 

"Mr.  Reading  asserts  positively  that  this  Corporal  has  no  au- 
thority, legal  or  otherwise.  There  is  therefore  no  one  this  side  of 
Libreville.  Even,  there,  he  thinks,  very  doubtful  if  we  could  find 
any  one  who  has  legal  authority  [for  her  deed].  The  Judge  might 
have.  Mr.  R.  still  thinks,  that,  if  himself,  should  sign  the  paper, 
and  write  an  explanation,  it  would  be  as  legal  as  any  paper  could  be 
made  here;  certainly,  he  has  as  much  authority  as  this  Commissaire 
(of  Police),  or  'Corporal,'  as  he  calls  him. 

"I  will  wait  until  our  crew  returns  [to  Talaguga],  which  will  be 
Monday,  at  the  furthest;  then,  will  decide  about  the  signing.  I\Ir.  R. 
says  he  can  not  get  a  crew  for  me  before  Tuesday.  So,  I  can  not  start 
before  then.  If  no  special  word  comes  to  me  from  you  about  re- 
maining, I  will  start,  God  willing,  next  Tuesday  morning,  expecting 
to  reach  Talaguga,  Friday.    God  keep  you  well." 

From  Mrs.  Nassau's  diary,  her  story  is  carried  on: — "Friday, 
Feb'y  15th.  Went  up  the  Hill.  P.  M.;  was  very  tired.  Looked  for 
the  book,  but  found  it  not.  Enjoyed  sister's  chicken.  Walked  to 
Miss  Harding's.  They  invited  me  for  to-morrow's  tea.  I  accepted 
conditionally.  Sister  walked  as  far  as  the  seat  with  me  [on  the  way 
down  Hill].  Itia  [a  native  Christian  young  man]  came  the  rest  of  the 
way.  Mr.  R.  urges  me  to  remain  for  the  steamer.  He  sends  PiCre 
[my  man  in  charge  of  the  kongongo]  back  to  Talaguga.  I  sent  word 
I  would  return  next  Tuesday. 

"Sat'y,  Feb'y  10th.  I  slept  poorly  last  night,  again.  Sent  regrets 
to  Miss  Harding,  I  felt  so  badly.    Only  lounged. 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  155 

"Sab.  Feb'y  17th.  Went  to  church.  Pleased  with  the  Mpongwe 
address  [of  the  native  assistant].  Very  ivarm.  [The  hottest  month 
of  the  year.]  Read  a  httle.  This  evening,  Mr.  R.  heard  that  Fang 
near  Rere-volo  had  shot  at  the  (French)  Expedition  canoes,  killed 
two  Aduma,  wounded  two  Goree.  Very  much  distressed;  decides 
I  can  not  go  on  Tuesday. 

"Mon.  Feb'y  18th.  Sister  Bella  comes  down,  about  3  P.  M. 
I  had  Mr.  R.  sign  the  paper.  Wrote  to  Mr.  [Rev.  A.  H.]  Brown,  and 
to  Mrs.  Reading.  Packed.  Miss  Harding  comes  dowTi  to  hear  what 
the  (Rere-volo)  trouble  was.  Just  then,  Rendiva  [one  of  my  em- 
ployes] came  with  a  letter  telling  the  story  of  the  trouble : — The  French 
canoes  were  coming  down,  with  a  priest  in  company,  and  Aduma 
paddlers;    Fang  and  Aduma  quarreled;    Fang  fired;    wounded  the 

priest;    killed ;    canoes  returned  to  Administrator  Kerraoul; 

he  went  down,  and  seized  Iveke-Wilson  [a  Mpongwe  trader]  and  a 
Fang.  Husband  said  he  feared  nothing  for  me.  Then,  we  decided 
to  start  to-morrow.     Sister  stayed  all  night. 

"Tues.  Feb'y  19th.  Sister  sent  for  her  nice  biscuits.  Mr.  R. 
found  that  2  of  the  4  waiting  to  'jira'  (escort)  me,  fled  this  morning. 
So,  he  drafted  Okendo  from  Miss  Harding,  and  Itia  from  Sister 
Bella  (leaving  her  but  2  weak  boys)  and  Xjai  from  his  own  house- 
force,  giving  me  8  for  the  'Montclair' [the  Kangwe  four-oared  boat.] 
I  was  much  distressed  at  this,  as  I\Ir.  R.  was  troubled  by  Husband's 
letter  last  night,  feeling  that  comj^laints  were  not  in  place,  as  he  has 
such  hard  times  to  get  crews  to  take  any  canoe  or  load.  But,  I 
knew  they  were  not  complaints,  tho'  Mr.  R.  felt  them  as  such.  It 
was  just  9.30,  A.  M.,  when  we  started  from  Andgnde." 

The  story  of  the  remainder  of  that  journey  I  take  from  a  journal 
letter  written  by  Mrs.  Nassau  to  Miss  I.  A.  Nassau:  "Tuesday, 
Feb.  19th.  5  P.  M.  The  heat  of  the  day  has  passed;  and  it  has 
been  hot.  At  11  A.  M.,  opposite  one  of  the  little  islands,  Mborakinda, 
we  met  Pi6re,  returning.  He  told  big  stories  of  the  killing  and  dying, 
&c.  &c. ;  and  of  the  repeated  injunctions  he  had  received  to  turn 
back,  until  he  had  finally  yielded.  He  had  spent  Sabbath  at  Bela- 
mbila;  had  reached  Njagudembo's,  when  he  w^as  sure  only  death  lay 
before  him.  So,  he  had  turned  back.  My  crew  were  evidently 
frightened,  and  w^anted  to  turn  back.  And,  there  were  exclama- 
tions of  disgust  when  I  said,  'No!'  that  we  must  go  on.  I  told  Pi6re 
we  would  take  care  of  them.  To  my  boat-men,  I  said  that  when  we 
were  passing  a  place  where  shots  would  come,  I  would  stand  up  in 
the  boat  and  take  them;  they  might  jump  into  the  water.     At  this 


156  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

they  laughed.  But,  we  went  on.  Pigre  kept  ahead.  At  noon,  we 
stopped  to  buy  fish.  At  1  P.  M.,  we  ate  at  a  place  beyond  the  old 
'olako'  [camp].  Spent  an  hour  and  three-quarters  there.  Went  on 
in  the  sun;  but,  the  crew  pulled  slowly  and  irregularly,  talking  and 
laughing.  While  stopping  at  a  sand-bar,  for  the  crew  to  bathe,  a 
canoe  passed  down.  Mamba  asked  the  news.  They  said  the  path 
was  open;  no  danger  or  trouble  for  us  or  any  one,  save  to  the  French. 
About  4  P.  M.,  Sdmbunaga  [a  Galwa  trader]  was  seen  coming  down 
with  great  eclat.  I  feared  a  collision;  but,  it  did  not  occur;  and,  I 
more  dreaded  his  news.  But,  it  was  quite  encouraging.  He  said 
that  the  Fang  so  feared  the  French  that  they  would  fire  on  no  canoe, 
particularly  as  they  knew  that  if  Iveke-Wilson  was  injured,  they 
would  have  much  to  pay;  and  therefore  would  not  trouble  other 
people  just  now. 

"I  wish  Mr.  R.  knew  how  his  'tall'  man  [really  a  lad]  has  done 
to-day  in  trying  to  urge  the  others ! 

"I  am  surprised,  but  suppose  that  Mamba  has  reasons  for  cross- 
ing the  river,  after  our  eating ;  and  we  are  now  going  up  '  the  other ' 
side.  Pigre  handed  to  me  my  lost  needle-book.  It  was  given  to 
him  by  Igwera,  the  trader  at  whose  house  I  slept  coming  down  river. 
I  had  left  it  there.  Thimble  and  all  were  there.  As  we  have  crossed 
the  river,  I  leave  a  cloth  for  him  in  reward.  I  enjoyed  your  bis- 
cuits for  dinner  very  much.  Mamba  had  bought  me  some  eggs.  I 
cooked  two;  ate  but  one!  [Whatever  eggs  the  Fang  were  willing  to 
part  with  were  apt  to  be  foul.]  Feel  better  than  I  did  when  going 
down  river.  Stopped  to  sleep,  on  a  sand-bar,  below,  but  in  sight  of 
Mr.  Ermy's  light,  at  7  P.  M.  Now,  9  P.  M.,  I  have  eaten  my  biscuits 
and  jam;  have  had  Prayers;  and  am  under  my  mosquito-net,  ready 
for  bed.  All  are  well,  I  believe;  tho'  we  surely  will  not  get  to  Tala- 
guga  in  three  days.     Good-night,  and  God  be  with  you  all  as  with  us. 

"Wed'y.  Feb'y  20th.  I  awoke  several  times.  Finallj',  slej)t 
until  5  A.  M.  [dawn],  when  I  began  to  dress.  Called  Mamba.  Crew 
complained  of  yiight  work.  I  ate  a  biscuit  and  my  tea;  and  started 
from  the  sand-bar  a  little  after  6  [sunrise].  Mr.  Brown  [a  white 
trader]  was  before  us,  in  his  canoe.  Were  an  hour  and  a  quarter 
in  reaching  Mr.  Ermy's.  At  8.45,  we  reached  a  sand-bar,  where  the 
crew  stopped  to  bathe,  below  the  first  Point  above  Ermy's,  where 
we  overtook  Pi6re,  who  had  slept  at  Ermy's.  Mamba  and  he  [they 
were  the  "captains,"  who,  usually,  only  held  the  rudder]  then  took 
paddles,  and  we  had  a  race.  First,  the  '  Montclair ' ;  then,  a  sand-bank 
interfering,  the  kongongo  got  far  ahead.  Mamba  has  just  done  a 
nice  thing;  he  has  i)asscd  by  a  village  (whore  he  expected  to  stop) 


ISS4,    MOTHERHOOD.  157 

because  there  were  too  many  people  there  for  my  comfort.  Stopped 
to  eat,  at  10  A.  M.,  at  a  new  Bakele  village,  a  little  below  Goree 
island.  There  I  found  one  of  your  former  pupils,  Mwanyeno,  to 
whom  I  gave  two  of  your  printed  lesson-leaves.  Imanda,  the  head- 
man, gave  me  a  small  chicken;  I  gave  him  15  fish-hooks  and  a  green 
sash.     Left  at  12,  noon.     Crew  bathe  again,  for  half  an  hour. 

"Reach  Belambila  20  minutes  after  4  P.  M.  Thunder,  and  dark 
clouds.  At  5.15,  we  reached  Mistula's  or  New  Osam-kita.  Here 
we  stop.  Two  little  rooms  are  given  to  me.  What  a  mess  I  find  in 
my  food-box!  The  butter  (rather,  the  oil)  is  spilled  over  and  in 
everything.     Mamba  helped  nicely  to  clean  up;  and  made  my  bed. 

"Thurs.  Feb.  21st.  What  a  night  I  have  had!  I  slept  poorly; 
not  at  all,  until  I  went  out  at  1  A.  M.  After  this,  I  slept  a  little. 
Heavy  rain  and  thunder  all  night.  Started  at  6.35  A.  M.  At  9 
o'clock,  stuck  on  a  log.  I  got  into  the  kongongo.  All  the  crew, 
except  2,  jumped  into  the  water;  and  finally  got  the  boat  off.  At 
11.15,  stop  at  a  village  opposite  Caj^t.  Stone's  [a  white  man]  trading- 
house,  above  Njagudembo's.  Stone's  steamer  lying  there.  Here, 
we  met  Laseni.  He  only  saluted.  He  is  in  a  village  just  above 
Stone's.  Capt.  S.,  in  his  launch  just  at  that  time  whistled  [in  salute]. 
He  did  not  go  any  farther.  Go  on  to  Isosa  at  12  noon;  ate  there. 
Bought  potatoes  [a  variety  of  sweet]  with  my  precious  plantains. 
Passed  Rere-volo  at  5.15.  For  the  first  day,  the  crew,  particularly 
Yongwe  [now  a  native  minister]  and  Mamba  have  at  last  awakened 
to  the  fact  that  there  is  work  to  be  done.  No  'isyavuna'  [bathing] 
this  afternoon.  Think  now,  we  will  reach  Talaguga  to-morrow. 
Reached  this  place,  Akendenge's  [a  native  trader,  brother  of  Mamba] 
about  7  P.  M.  He  greeted  me  kindly,  and  I  have  my  bed  made  on 
some  of  his  large  boxes.  Had  a  partial  bath.  Ate  fried  potatoes 
for  supper. 

"Fri.  Feb.  22d.  Slept  right  thro',  when  I  began;  I  was  so  used 
up.     Got  up  at  5  A.  M.     Started  at  6.30. 

"Passed  Yeria  at  8.30.  Just  now,  Mamba  and  Okendo  [now  an 
evangelist]  have  trouble.  Okendo  is,  at  times,  imposed  upon;  then, 
at  other  times,  is  most  provokingly  impudent.  I  presume  that 
Okendo  will  be  quiet;  but,  if  he  should  have  complaints  to  make,  I 
hope  that  Mr.  Reading  will  not  listen  to  them;  tho',  I  do  not  think 
there  is  much  danger  that  he  will.  Mamba  was  right,  I  think;  Okendo 
was  very  impudent.  For  the  first  time,  I  have  been  in  a  small  tor- 
nado. Big  wind,  and  bigger  rain ;  rain  fell  in  torrents.  Feared  a  little 
for  the  boat;  but,  we  are  all  safe.     I  am  wet,  but  a  little;  of  course, 


158  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

the  crew  are  wet.  We  reach  Sanjahi  at  11  A.  M.  Ate;  and  started 
again  at  1.  P.  M.,  for  TalagugnU!  Reached  Taiaguga  at  3  P.  M. 
Folks,  particularly  one,  seemed  glad  to  see  me.  Tired,  but  not  so 
much  as  when  I  reached  Andeude. 

"Mamba  started  back  with  the  'Montclair,'  for  Kangwe,  before 
10  P.  M. 

"Sat.  Feb.  23d.  Put  things  away.  Did  not  go  to  the  villages; 
Husband  went.  Yesterday,  Joktan  and  Mbwelo  left;  Husband  had 
had  difficulty  with  them.  Our  hearts  are  full  of  thanks,  because  of 
safe  union  again. 

"Sab.  Feb.  24th,  .  .  .  Went  to  the  spring,  for  prayer.  ()! 
God,  we  can  not  thank  Thee  enough  for  Thy  care.  Only  4  or  5  at 
meeting,  from  the  Fang  village." 

In  perusing  Mrs.  Nassau's  diaries,  there  are  revelations,  even  to 
me,  her  husband.  She  was  not  demonstrative.  The  habitual  re- 
serve, that  had  made  approach  to  her  in  1881  a  problem,  never  en- 
tirely disai^peared,  even  after  that  problem  had  been  happily  solved. 
But  I  knew  the  love  of  her  heart.  Also,  she  was  extremely  con- 
scientious. Painfully  so,  I  think,  as  I  read  her  private  records,  of 
her  communings  with  God  and  self-rebukes  that  seem  to  me  pitiful, 
knowing,  as  I  did,  her  devotion  to  duty  and  to  tasks.  That  servants 
are  neglectful,  disobedient,  and  sometimes  impudent,  is  true  in  all 
lands.  That  the  half-civilized,  or  heathen,  lads  and  girls  should  be 
neglectful  and  trying  on  patience  is  not  an  experience  peculiar  to 
her.  They  are  more  or  less  so  to  all  new  missionaries,  especially 
until  the  latter  have  learned  the  native  language  and  can  know  what 
is  being  said.  But  Mrs.  Nassau,  in  her  attitude  to  those  natives, 
did  not  regard  them  simply  as  servants;  they  were  to  her  the  ones 
to  whom  God  had  sent  her  for  their  salvation.  Their  derelictions 
hurt  her  as  if  she  was  to  blame  for  not  more  perfectly  training  or 
instructing  them.  In  the  high  standard  she  set  for  herself,  she  ex- 
pected from  these  half-hcatluMi  more,  I  think,  than  we  usually  look  for 
in  a  civilized  land. 

These  expressions  of  pain  run  through  the  pages  of  1882-1884. 
But  in  1883-1884  there  are  oftener  added  thanks  for  answered  prayer. 
I  have  quoted  but  few  of  these  ejaculations  of  pain  or  renditions 
of  thanks.  They  are  there  in  the  diaries.  I  leave  them  there.  They 
were  not  often  said  to  me.  I  could  wish  they  had  been.  I  think  I 
could  have  aided.  They  were  burdens  I  had  a  right  to  share.  But 
she  generously  and  lovingly  thought  to  save  me  from  them. 


ISS-i,    MOTHERHOOD.  159 

■"Wed.  Feb.  27th.  Feel  poorly,  hardly  able  to  do  anything;  at 
least,  have  no  ambition  to  do  so. 

"Sat.  Mar,  1st.  In  answer  to  prayer,  .\mpamba  [one  of  my  em- 
ployes who  wanted  to  desert]  remains.  Hamill  gave  me  a  ride  around 
Talaguga  Rock;  and  then  we  went  to  Xdonamavima's  .village.  Were 
received  kindly;   and  the  people  listened  well. 

"Wed.  Mar.  5th.  About  9  A.M.,  the  whistle  of  the  'Okota' 
blew.  After  much  trouble  with  canoe  and  boat,  both  got  off;  and, 
soon,  Sister  Bella  was  seen  retui-ning  in  the  boat.  Was  very  glad. 
She  brought  two  letters,  one  from  Julius  [her  brother],  and  a  photo  of 
Charlie  [my  son].  He  has  gro^m  to  be  so  manly.  Sister  had  a  tooth 
taken  out,  or  broken  off. 

"Thurs.  Mar.  6th.  About  6  o'clock  this  morning,  sister  and 
Hamill  reached  the  '  Okota '  (Hamill  had  slept  on  the  cot  in  the  dining- 
room).  I  was  up  at  3.30  A.  M.  All  very  tired;  but  very  happy  in 
God's  goodness  to  us.  All  our  timber  is  now  here.  [The  'Okota' 
had  been  bringing  the  lumber  for  the  new  house.  My  sister,  in  the 
extremity  of  her  toothache,  had  come,  for  the  day,  to  my  unskilled 
dentistry.  Though  Mrs.  Nassau  knew  that  my  two  sons  were  each 
permanently  located  in  other  homes,  and  that  she  would  have  no 
responsibility  over  them,  she  generously  recognized  the  quasi-ma- 
ternal relation  into  which  marriage  brought  her  to  them,  took  them 
lovingly  in  her  prayers,  rejoiced  in  their  development,  WTote  to  them 
regularly,  and  valued  their  occasional  responses.] 

"Sat.  Mar.  8th.  Visited  Xyare's,  after  going  around  the  Rock 
again.     Xyare's  are  so  indifferent  to  our  \dsits. 

"Sab.  Mar.  9th.  I  feel  uncomfortable.  Quite  a  number  of  Fang, 
and  Mpongwe  traders  come  to  services. 

"Thursday,  Mar.  13th.  Mr.  Menkel  stayed  on  his  bed,  reading, 
all  the  morning.  I  have  not  the  sympathv  I  have  had  before  for  him 
in  troubles  between  himself  and  Hamill.  Finished  his  novel;  and, 
after  dinner,  went  dowai  the  hill.  After  a  long  talk,  went  to  work. 
His  demands,  some  of  them,  are  unjust;  to  others,  Hamill  consented." 

A  P.  S.  to  a  letter  of  date  March  21st,  to  her  brother,  says: — 

"A  little  steam-launch  has  just  arrived,  and  I  want  to  add  just  a 
word  about  the  support  or  aid  these  French  would  be  to  us  in  time  of 


160  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

trouble  with  the  Fang.  I  do  not  know  surely  whether  even,  one  man 
was  killed,  but  we  do  know  that  the  priest  was  badly  wounded.  They 
[the  French]  have  not  done  one  single  thing  to  the  Fang,  in  punish- 
ment, except  to  make  idle  threats.  If  they  thus  pass  over  injuries 
done  to  their  own  countryman,  there  is  no  hope  that  they  will  trouble 
themselves  to  aid  us  in  any  kind  of  danger  with  the  Fang.  .  .  . 
The  foundation  posts  are  up  for  the  new  house.  [Subsequently, 
the  French  did  take  action.] 

"Sat.  Mar.  22d.  ^letyeba  [who  had  returned  to  my  service] 
told  Hamill  that  all  things  were  going  to  destruction  at  the  new 
house,  unless  Hamill  himself  would  go  and  remain  on  the  grounds. 
Hamill  talked  with  Mr.  Menkel ;  reminded  him  of  his  promise  not  to 
strike  the  men  (which  he  had  broken,  these  days),  and  reproved  him 
for  his  impatient  and  angry  way  of  directing  the  workmen.  He  took 
the  reproof  kindly.  I  wish  Hamill  could  give  the  control  of  the  men 
to  Mr.  M. ;  but,  we  are  morally  certain  that  this  would  result  in  the 
departure  of  nearly  every  man.  Force  could  not  be  bro't  to  bear 
upon  them  sufficient  to  make  them  submit  to  Mr.  M's  sharp,  biting 
and  constantly  irritating  words." 

A  most  distressing  history:  Mr.  Menkel  was  an  employe  of  the 
Mission  (not,  at  that  time,  a  full  member)  as  mechanic.  As  such, 
he  was  directed,  from  time  to  time,  to  go  hither  and  yon,  as  the  car- 
pentering of  the  several  stations  reciuired.  In  so  doing,  he  was  sub- 
ject to  the  direction  of  the  missionary  at  whose  station  he  was  work- 
ing. But  in  coming  to  me,  he  had  taken  the  position  that,  in  build- 
ing the  Talaguga  house,  he  was  doing  it,  not  on  Mission  order,  but  as 
a  personal  favor  to  me.  He  demanded  that  (1)  handing  him  the  plan 
of  the  house,  I  should  in  no  way  thereafter  interfere,  by  giving  any 
direction,  either  to  him  or  the  workmen;  (2)  that  my  men  should 
be  under  his  sole  control,  even  to  the  point  of  their  dismissal;  (3) 
while  I  might  visit  the  house  during  its  erection,  it  should  be  only 
as  a  spectator.  The  man  Metyeba  was  a  skilled  native  carpenter, 
of  the  Kombe  tribe  from  Benita,  a  friend  of  my  former  days  there. 
Though  he  was  almost  Mr.  Menkel's  equal  as  a  carpenter,  I  gave  him 
to  him  as  his  assistant.  Helpless,  and  in  my  desire  to  have  com- 
pleted the  house  on  which  almost  a  year  had  been  wasted,  I  yielded 
to  Mr.  Menkel's  astonishing  demands.  But  the  work  lagged.  Even 
with  all  my  tact  toward  the  workmen,  it  was  difficult  to  induce  them 
to  stay,  because  of  the  shortness  of  food.  But  they  would  not  submit 
to  Mr.  Menkel's  reckless  violence.     I  was  compelled  to  interfere. 


1SS4,    MOTHERHOOD.  161 

On  Thursday,  March  27th,  ]\Irs.  Nassau  makes  her  first  distinct 
record  about  maternal  prospects:  "Had  a  bad  coUc  this  morning 
before  Prayers;  stayed  in  bed  until  after  Prayers  and  breakfast. 
Miserable  all  day.  Feared  that  we  are  mistaken  about  my  condition, 
and  that     ...     are  caused  by  some  other  reason. 

"Friday,  March  28th.  ...  I  still  feel  anxious,  for  trouble 
in  the  bowels.  And,  now  we  begin  to  fear  greatly  that  my  expec- 
tations are  false.     God  help  me,  either  way. 

"Sun.  Mar.  30th.  Am  feeling  poorly  this  week.  Resting  in 
afternoon,  so  that  Edibwani  has  not  come  to  recite. 

"Wed.  April  2d.  The  last  [foundation]  post  set  to-day  [for  the 
new  house].  I  went  to  the  spring,  and  took  notes,  on  the  way,  for 
a  letter  to  Miss  Johnson,  of  Newark.  [I  find  among  Mrs.  Nassau's 
papers  several  drafts  of  a  letter,  "written  to  the  Sab.  Sch.  of  the 
First  Presb.  Church  of  Newark,  May  1884,"  which,  I  suppose,  was 
the  outcome  of  her  notes  at  the  spring,  made  on  April  2d  and  4th.] 

"Come  with  me  to  the  Spring.  The  sun  is  not  shining  brightly 
this  afternoon;  so,  you  will  need  no  shade,  save  your  sun-hat  (and 
rubber  shoes).  We  pass  by  our  kitchen,  with  its  walls  of  bark;  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  begin  a  steep  descent.  The  path  is  ex- 
ceedingly slippery,  because  of  recent  rains.  The  first  signs  of  tropical 
Africa  are  these  beautiful  ferns  that  line  the  path-way.  The  path 
now  turns  to  the  left,  and  runs,  not  down,  but  horizontally ;  so  narrow 
and  smooth  that  Alpine  shoes  could  be  of  use.  Do  not  stumble  on 
these  rootlets,  sit  down  on  a  fallen  log.  Look  at  the  strange  foliage. 
No  palms  just  here.  Now,  we  are  driven  away  by  a  line  of  ants. 
Now,  suddenly  stopped  by  a  fallen  tree,  whose  trunk  towers  3  ft  above 
our  heads.  Surely,  we  can  not  climb  over  this  debris;  and  there  are 
scarcely  3  ft.  between  it  and  the  ground.  We  bend  under  it  in  hu- 
mility, and  will  be  able  to  creep  through  to  the  other  side.  The  shade 
grows  dense;  few  rays  of  sun-light  penetrate  this  heavy  foliage. 
Rocks  lie  along  our  path,  and  on  either  side.  What  would  your 
fern-loving  friend  say,  to  express  her  delight,  could  this  stone  with 
its  exquisite  covering  of  moss  and  delicate  ferns  be  transferred  to 
her  conservatory? 

"Our  cook  is  coming  towards  us  with  a  pail  of  water  on  his  head. 
You  wonder  at  his  ability  to  keep  his  footing;  and  ask  how  he  ivalks 
under  the  tree  we  have  just  passed.  Never  fear  but  that  the  native 
will  pass  with  a  burden  where  the  white  lady  can  walk. 


162  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Here  is  a  natural  gateway;  two  large  trees,  with  their  far-ex- 
tended buttresses,  stand  sentinel  on  either  side.  No  toll  is  asked. 
But,  do  stop,  and  examine  the  wonders  of  those  buttressed  trunks. 
The  body  of  the  tree,  9  or  10  feet  above  the  ground,  extending  itself 
into  narrow  far-reaching  supports.  Between  these  buttresses,  what 
delightful  play-houses  do  we  find!  [Here  Mrs.  Nassau  enclosed  a 
sketch  of  the  tree.]  This  division  we  will  call  our  parlor ;  sweep  away 
the  rubbish  of  leaves.  Look  what  a  beautiful  ornament  this  ants' 
nest  will  make;  and  all  its  12  shelves  most  beautifully  carved,  or 
more  truly,  modeled  from,  the  hard  clay,  by  our  kind  friends  the  busy 
ants.  This  pretty  nook,  with  the  moss  and  the  begonia-covered  rock 
is  our  conservatory.  This  wide  open  space  will  make  a  grand  kitchen. 
Never  mind,  tho'  the  ground  be  moist.  Here  our  happy  little  American 
house-keepers  might  find  many  pleasant  hours.  The  Fang  children 
know  nothing  of  parlors  or  conservatories  or  even  kitchens.  Their 
stove  is  the  ground,  and  their  kitchen  is  the  nearest  sheltered  spot, 
perhaps  under  the  eaves  of  their  low  hut,  or  in  the  middle  of  their 
low,  small,  dark  living-room.  I  once  saw  some  of  our  children 
making  play-houses  from  the  branches  of  trees,  of  this  form  [she 
margined  a  sketch];  but,  so  low  that  they  could  just  crawl  in  on  their 
stomachs.  By  the  noise  they  made,  I  judged  they  enjoyed  the  sport. 
Also,  just  once,  I  saw  a  pretty  little  play-boat  made  of  bamboo. 
Generally,  these  boys  and  girls  sit  in  the  dust,  or  lazily  lounge,  or  do 
errands  for  their  elders,  caring  little  for  regular  games.  Among  more 
civilized  tribes,  quite  interesting  games  are  known.  (I  think,  if  you 
should  ask  Mrs.  DeHeer,  who  lives  among  the  Kombe  people,  she 
would  tell  of  children's  games.) 

"How  delightfully  cool,  in  the  shade  of  this  huge  boulder!  If  we 
could  only  bring  these  poor  people  to  the  shadow  of  the  Great  Rock, 
where  alone  they  can  find  safety  or  rest  in  this  weary  land!  More 
wild  grow  our  surroundings.  Nature  has  left  her  traces  of  fierce  con- 
vulsion, when  mountains  were  cleft  asunder.  These  sides  are  still 
gaping  with  seams  long  and  far-reaching;  while  between,  lie  tumbled 
in  wild  confusion,  the  debris  of  broken  rock. 

"You  hear  the  sound  of  falling  water.  Pass  this  wall  of  rock, 
and  stop!  look!  coiled  around  the  root  of  that  tree,  what  an  en- 
ormous  .     But,  it  does  not  move!     Dare  we  go  nearer?     It  is 

only  one  of  the  numerous  vines  which  abound  in  these  forests.  How 
snake-like  does  it  lie  there!  Its  support  has  fallen,  and  it  seems 
writhing  in  impotent  wrath  among  the  roots  and  rocks  of  our  path- 
way. But,  hasten  on!  Slide  down  this  rock,  evidently  once  the 
bed  of  a  miniature  water-fall;  over  slippery  stones,  catching  hold 
of  tree  and  bush  for  aid;   and,  at  last  we  stand  before  our  Spring  of 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  163 

clear,  cool,  never-failing  water.  The  sun  lights,  what  seemed  almost 
gloom,  with  a  soft  radiance.  Before  us,  and  at  the  right,  rises  a  wall 
of  rock  at  least  30  feet  high.  Behind  us,  a  wilderness  of  tangled  trees 
and  vines.  Before,  and  at  the  left,  the  wall  breaks  suddenly.  Thro' 
this  opening,  dashes  a  rapid  stream,  broken  at  its  lower  fall,  into 
silvery  sheets  by  the  wide  rough  face  of  rock  over  which  it  flows. 
Constantly,  it  pours  its  clear  waters  into  this  crystal  Pool.  The 
water's  angry  foaming  reception  ends  in  tiny  wavelets  at  our  feet. 
This  is  the  choicest  spot  of  Talaguga.  We  are  at  all  times  painfully 
alone,  as  to  the  presence  of  Civilization,  or  the  comi^anionship  of 
christian  friends.  But,  we  are  not  alone  as  to  constant  cares,  anxieties, 
and  annoyances,  and  sometimes,  fears.  But,  the  loneliness  of  these 
wild  forests  and  the  majestic  grandeur  of  these  ragged  walls  of  rock, 
are  most  restful ;  while  this  fitful  music  is  a  pleasing  accompaniment 
to  prayerful  thought.  Alone  with  God!  'Nature  here,  in  the  tran- 
quility, that  Thou  dost  love,  enjoys  Thy  Presence.'  And  we  grate- 
fully yield  to  these  influences;  and  would  also  offer  solemn  thanks 
and  supplication.  Supplication  for  the  multitudes  around  us,  who, 
neither  in  Nature,  nor  in  their  own  hearts,  find  any  witness  of  God. 

"Apr.  3d.  Husband  off  by  7.40  A.  M.  The  day  quiet.  I  pray 
much,  but  with  weak  faith,  for  a  comfortable  journey  for  the  Hus- 
band. After  5  P.  M.,  I  began  to  look;  and,  at  5.20,  the  canoe  came 
in  sight,  with  a  load  of  bamboo,  and  the  best  of  reports  of  the  quiet- 
ness of  the  day.  So  thankful,  I  could  hardly  eat!  O!  God,  forgive 
my  unbelief!  Even  Ngawe's  wanting  to  'kamba  na  'we'  [to  speak 
with  you]  was  only  a  request  to  have  a  pair  of  shoes  from  Angom.  So 
much  better  than  our  fears!  [The  often  unreasonable  complaints, 
demands,  wishes,  or  orcfmary  conversation  of  our  employes  were 
always  preceded  by  the  apparently  respectful  'm'bela  kamba  na 
'we;'  but  one  was  uncertain  what  was  to  follow.  The  phrase  made 
Mrs.  Nassau  almost  nervously  afraid  of  coming  trouble.  For  ordi- 
nary conversation,  she  was  always  pleased;  that  was  one  of  the  means 
of  doing  direct  missionary  work.] 

"Sat'y.  Apr.  5th.  After  dinner,  Mr.  Siddons  called  with  the 
mail,  which  was  wet  and  covered  with  meal  that  had  been  put  in 
the  bag.  He  was  dressed  in  pajamas  and  singlet  [undershirt].  No 
letter  from  Will.  .  .  .  Wearied  and  excited.  [Some  of  the 
white  traders  traveled  in  very  unconventional  costume.] 

"Tuesday,  Apr.  8th.  Began  this  month,  the  study  of  India. 
To-day  have  had  Rawal-Pindi  before  me.     ...     I  went  to  the 


164  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

spring.  Found  a  piece  of  plumbago,  I  think.  [I  do  not  remember 
Mrs.  Nassau's  having  mentioned  about  the  plumbago.  But  a  few 
years  later,  when  I  took  Rev.  A.  C.  Good  over  the  Hill,  I  found  and 
directed  his  attention  to  the  same.  He  reported  it  to  a  friend  in 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  I  reported  it  to  the  French  authorities,  but  they 
took  no  notice  of  it.] 

"Wed'y  Apr.  9th.     Feel  very  uncomfortable;  perhaps  feverish. 

"Thurs.  Apr.  10th.  Still  just  able  to  stand.  Food  troubles  me; 
poor  digestion.     [I  do  not  think  it  was  'fever'  or  'digestion.'] 

"Sat.  Apr.  12th.  Went  to  Bindube  villages  near  'Gov.'  Ker- 
raoul's.  Started  at  1.30.  P.  M.  Returned,  5.30.  Feel  better. 
Were  stopped  by  the  (French)  Goree  soldier  at  Njoli  [island]. 

"Sunday,  Apr.  13th.  Good  day.  Husband  asked  me  to  pray  with 
him,  to  seek  aid  in  speaking  this  evening  on  'the  Blood  of  Christ.' 

"Sat.  April  19th.  Mr.  Menkel  and  Husband  went  to  the  'Gov- 
ernor's.' Were  stopped  again;  and  the  Goree  was  very  impudent, 
and  would  hardly  let  them  pass  at  all.  Kerraoul  said  the  soldier 
was  right;  no  boat  or  canoe  is  to  pass  without  a  permit,  or  the  pres- 
ence of  Kerraoul  himself.  We  think  that  he  himself  has  made  this 
rule.  The  hope  to  go  inland  is,  humanly  speaking,  growing  less 
and  less.  We  can  not  visit  even  those  villages  just  this  side  of  the 
Post,  but  which  are  above  Njoli  island.  God  look  in  mercy  on  us, 
and  on  His  work!" 

This  incident  marked  a  critical  day  in  our  Talaguga  life.  Njoli 
island  was  two  miles  beyond  us,  up  river;  a  second,  a  mile  farther; 
and  Asange,  two  miles  still  farther.  DeBrazza's  first  camp  had 
been  on  Njoli.  When  he,  subsequently,  established  a  military  and 
trading  post,  he  located  it  at  Asange,  but  still  called  it  "Njoli  Post." 

On  that  April  19th,  I  took  Mr.  Menkel  with  me  to  make  a  courtesy 
call  on  the  French  official.  Mrs.  Nassau  baked  and  sent  with  me  a 
tasteful  gift  of  pastries  for  Mons.  Kerraoul.  As  we  were  passing 
Njoli  we  observed  a  French  laptot  (native  soldier)  making  frantic 
motions  toward. us.  I  had  no  idea  what  he  was  saying.  Thinking 
he  was  in  distress,  I  went  to  his  aid  (?).  Then  we  understood  that 
he  was  ordering  us  not  to  proceed.  I  knew  no  reason  why,  and 
refused.  He  threatened  to  shoot.  I  told  him  my  errand  was  to 
the  Administrator.  He  was  obdurate.  I  showed  him  my  gifts  for 
"his  Excellency."     Then  he  yielded,  but  said  that  if,  on  our  return, 


1S84,    MOTHERHOOD.  165 

I  did  not  bring-  a  written  permit  from  Kerraoul,  he  would  shoot  me. 
At  Asange  we  were  received  (apparently)  cordially.  Mons.  Ker- 
raoul spoke  in  English,  and  we  conversed.  Ironically,  I  compli- 
mented him  on  having  such  a  good  guard  on  Njoli.  He  justified 
him!  "But,  Governor,  is  it  not  permitted  that  I  shall  visit  you,  as 
now?"  "No."  Amazed,  I  added,  "Not  even  to  make  a  call  of 
courtesy?"  "No."  Utterly  amazed,  I  asked  hypothetically,  "But, 
your  Excellency,  if  my  life  was  in  great  danger  from  the  Fang  at 
Talaguga,  might  I  not  come  to  you  for  assistance?"  "No;  it  is 
not  permitted  that  any  but  French  shall  pass  Njoli.  If,  however, 
you  should  be  in  danger,  you  may  come  as  far  as  Njoli,  and  the  sen- 
tinel there  will  bring  word  for  you  to  me."  "And  during  that  wait- 
ing there,  of  almost  two  hours,  I  would  probably  be  killed.  I  see 
natives,  Okota  fishermen,  coming  almost  daily  to  Talaguga.  How 
is  it  that  they  pass  Njoh?"  "They  are  French  citizens,  and  I  give 
them  daily  written  permits."  "Then,  your  Excellency,  please  give  a 
citizen  of  a  country  which  is  in  friendship  with  France,  a  number  of 
such  permits,  to  use  as  he  may  have  occasion."  He  refused.  "But, 
certainly,  you  will  write  me  one  permit  to  pass  me  safely,  as  I  return 
to  Talaguga  to-day?"  Reluctantly  he  wrote  it.  And  I  gave  it  to 
the  laptot  on  Njoli.  During  all  that  astonishing  interview,  Mons. 
Kerraoul  displayed  the  fullest  of  typical  French  courtesy  of  voice 
and  manner,  including  the  shoulder  shrug  and  out-turned  palms  that 
are  the  Gallic  final  closure  of  any  argument.  I  did  not  believe  that 
he  had  authority  to  issue  that  prohibition  to  me.  (His  superior 
subsequently  disclaimed  it,  saying  that  it  applied  onl}^  to  trades- 
men.) From  this  and  other  acts,  and  from  the  dealings  of  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Government  of  Madagascar,  I  have  always  believed 
that  it  was  part  of  Roman  Catholic  machinations  against  Protestant 
missions.  Machinations  that  increased  in  their  persecuting  limita- 
tions, until,  in  1892,  wearied,  our  American  ^lission  left  the  Ogowe 
field,  handing  it  over  to  our  Protestant  brethren  of  the  Societe  Evan- 
gelique  de  Paris,  who,  though  also  limited,  as  Protestants,  are  en- 
couraged as  Frenchmen.  From  that  19th  of  April,  I  never  again 
thought  of  Njoli  Post  or  M.  Kerraoul  as  a  source  of  aid  in  any  way, 
as  to  letters,  mail,  food,  purchases,  help,  comfort,  or  companionship. 
He  and  his  post  passed  utterly  out  of  our  lives  or  thought,  except 
when  we  grieved  at  the  belief  that  our  plan  for  advance  into  the 
interior  was  dead.  I  bitterly  reminded  him  of  his  prohibition  four 
months  later. 

"Mon.  Apr.  21st.     Husband  has  given  the  little  boy  Onjingo  to 
me,  to  help  me  in  and  around  the  house. 


166  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Wed.  Apr.  23d.  Feel  so  much  better  this  week.  Am  having 
Onjingo  plant  the  slip  from  the  tree  at  Kangwe  which  bears  such 
beautiful  white  flowers.  God  help  me  to  be  faithful  to  him,  and 
bring  him  to  Christ.  .  .  .  Ankombia's  wife  still  working  on  her 
dress.  [At  that  time,  there  were  twenty  natives,  including  Metyeba's 
wife  and  Ankombia's,  whom  I  had  to  feed  on  rice  and  farin3^a;  I 
could  get  no  plantains  at  all.  These  emjDloyes  were  not  used  to  the 
other  diet  (without  meat) ;  onlv  their  lovalty  to  me  made  them  endure 
it.] 

"Sat.  Apr.  26th.  Went  to  Xdonamavuna's  village.  Very  few 
present,  but  the  men.  Spoke  himself;  the  first  original  prayer  we 
have  heard. 

"Monday,  Apr.  2Sth.  Washing  big.  Mr.  Menkel's  many  clothes. 
Hard  work  finishing.     Did;  thanks  to  God,  and  with  a  good  sun. 

"Tues.  Apr.  28th.  Ironing  done  only  by  pushing.  Mbigino  did 
nicely.  Ngawe  sick.  Very  tired ;  suffered  exceedingly ;  from  dys- 
pepsia, I  guess.     [I  do  not  think  she  really  believed  it  was  dyspepsia.] 

"Wed.  Apr.  30th.  Suffering  still.  Oh!  God,  that  I  might,  in  pain 
and  in  annoyances,  glorify  Thee ! 

"Sat.  May  3d.  Walking  around.  Feel  weak;  and  still  pain  in 
the  shoulder-blades. 

"Mon.  May  5th.  ...  I  am  much  better.  Onjingo  is  doing 
the  house-work  grandly! 

"Tues.  May  6th.  .  .  .  About  6.30  P.  M.,  Husband  came. 
Was  so  surprised.  A  wonderful  journey  he  has  had;  and  we  are  full 
of  thanksgiving.  God,  iguma  (manioc),  and  plantains!  The  French 
Expedition  passed  up  river  yesterday,  but  did  not  buy  all  the  food, 
as  I  feared.     God  is  so  verij  good  to  us. 

"Wed.  May  7th.  I  arose  and  had  a  little  prayer  with  Hamill, 
before  dressing,  to  give  thanks,  and  to  seek  aid. 

"In  the  morning,  Hamill  came  up  [the  Hill]  and  said  there  was 
need  of  prayer;  trouble  between  himself  and  Mr.  Menkel.  Metyeba 
told  Hamill  that  the  house  was  crooked,  by  six  inches.  Mr.  M.  re- 
sented it;  spoke  roughly  to  Doctor.  In  the  evening,  Mr.  M.  and 
Hamill  had  a  long  talk.     I  was  so  wearied  by  it.     Tried  to  si)end 


1SS4,    MOTHERHOOD.  167 

the  time  in  prayer.  Fear  I  failed.  But,  the  talk  proved  satisfac- 
tory. Mr.  M.  more  quiet,  and  much  hurt  as  to  his  pride  by  this  mis- 
take.    Hamill  was  enabled  to  keep  his  voice  and  words  kind. 

"Thurs.  May  Sth.  Hamill  and  Mr.  M.  look  at  the  house;  decide 
to  let  it  alone.  The  reason  Mr.  M.  blames  Metyeba  so  severely  is 
because  he  did  not  tell  him  instead  of  Hamill.  It  seems  that  Metyeba 
had  told  Mr.  M. ;  but  the  latter  would  not  listen.  Hamill  had  another 
talk  with  Mr.  M.,  in  which  he  told  him  he  wanted  him  to  finish  the 
house  before  he  (Hamill)  should  go  down-river  in  June." 

[I  had  faithfully  complied  with  Mr.  Menkel's  demand  that,  in 
order  that  he  might  have  the  entire  credit  for  the  erection  of  the 
building,  I  should  give  no  advice  nor  make  any  criticism.  He  had 
allowed  me  to  be  present,  in  order  to  keep  the  workmen  obedient. 
Metyeba  was  a  very  quiet,  diligent,  conscientious  worker.  When 
he  pointed  out  to  me  that  the  frame  of  the  house  was  out  of  plumb,  I 
at  once  saw  it  and  quietly  asked  Mr.  Menkel's  attention  to  it.  He 
broke  into  a  rage.  I  as  quietly  asked  him  to  take  his  square.  He 
did  so.  Then  he  sat  down,  weeping  with  shame  at  his  mistake,  and 
said  he  would  throw  up  the  job.  I  insisted  that  it  would  be  wrong 
for  him  to  leave  me  at  that  critical  stage  of  the  building.  He  re- 
mained and  enclosed  the  outer  walls.  I  subsequently  completed 
the  interior.  It  was  doubtless  true  that  Metyeba  had  previously 
pointed  out  the  six  inches  to  him.  But  Mr.  Menkel  had  doubtless 
scouted  the  idea,  had  not  even  attempted  to  verify  it,  and  had  for- 
gotten it.  In  her  perfect  conscientiousness,  Mrs.  Nassau  did  not 
believe  that  marital  loyalty  required  the  justification  of  a  husband, 
right  or  wrong;  and  would  not  have  justified  me  had  she  thought 
I  was  wrong.     But  such  disharmonies  wearied  her  Christian  spirit.] 

"  Fri.  May  9th.  Am  feeling  very  comfortable  these  days.  Looked 
around  for  material  to  begin  little  clothes.  Husband  wants  me  to 
go  with  him  to-morrow  to  Yeiia,  to  see  about  ompavo  [thatch].  I 
dread  the  journey,  but  consent. 

"May  10th.  Sat.  We  started  about,  7.45  A.  M.  Had  a  pleasant 
journey  down;  cool  and  cloudy.  Reached  Ongam's  [a  civilized 
Mpongwe].  Ate,  in  the  waiting  room.  Met  first  by  the  sound  of 
many  little  axes  clearing  for  Ongam's  new  trading-house.  Mpenga 
and  5  men  had  come  with  us  in  the  canoe;  Pifire  and  six  men  and 
boys  in  the  kongongo;  also  Walker  [a  mulatto  trader].  Found  only 
110  instead  of  400  ompavo,  as  we  expected.     Started  back.     I  felt 


168  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

the  motion  of  the  boat  (tee,  with  Mambo  and  2  Fang,  were  in  the 
'  Swan ')  and  the  heat.  Saw  a  huge  nest  of  mud,  sticks  and  leaves,  in 
the  crotch  of  a  large  limb  over-hanging  the  water.  The  wise  bird 
had  made  the  door  on  the  side  from  which  our  severe  storms  seldom 
come.  Also,  hanging  nests,  built  on  the  thorny  slender  fronds  of 
the  Calamus  palm,  over  the  water  (thus  free  from  snakes)  the  lower 
extension  a  beautiful  net-work ;  the  lower  part  of  this  filament  is  the 
entrance.  Waited  long  here  to  move  a  'pe'  [the  deadly  horned 
viper  of  Gaboon]  which  proved  to  be  a  log!  Plucked  a  beautiful 
lily-shaped  flower  from  a- tree,  seldom  seen.  Was  gorgeous;  corolla 
fully  six  inches  in  diameter,  creamy-yellow,  with  purple  si3ots.  Also 
one  of  7ny  blue  petaled  flowers  [the  one  I  dedicated  to  her  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1882].  And  Mussenda.  Saw  another  white  terminal-leaved 
flower.  Had  a  very  very  pleasant  day.  Found,  on  return  at  5  P.  M. 
(a  wonderfully  early  arrival)  that  my  boys  had  done  nicely. 

"Before  we  sat  down  to  tea,  the  whistle  of  the  'Okota'  was  heard. 
Mr.  Menkel  went  in  the  kongongo.  Mr.  Sinclair  on  board.  Njambi 
and  Alundo  [former  employes]  came  back.  Large  mail,  16  letters. 
Aunt  Eliza  Babcock  died  Mon.  Jan'y  21st,  78  years  old;  8  years 
older  than  our  mother.  Hamill  received  a  cruel  letter  from  Rev. 
:  all  excited.  Hamill  went  to  bed  at  4  o'clock  Sabbath  morn- 
ing. I  suffered  very  much  from  falling-down  pains.  Slept  very 
little.     Still  no  word  from  Will.     .     .     . 

"Sab.  May  11th.  I  did  not  expect  to  dress  until  church;  but, 
as  Mr.  Sinclair  called  during  prayers,  I  got  up.  He  drank  tea  with 
us.     Felt  very  weak,  and  still  suffering;  but  keep  up.     God  is  with  us. 

"Mon.  May  12th.  .  .  .  Hamill  had  a  good  letter  from  sister 
Emma  [Mrs.  William  Swan];  and  a  long  one  from  Mr.  Patten  [the 
generous  guardian  of  my  son  Charles],  who  said  that  Mr.  Swan  was 
to  preach  in  Philadelphia.  ...  I  still  feel  very  uncomfortable. 
My  Bible  Correspondence  ])apers  came,  and  I  began  to  study  this 
morning. 

"Thursday,  May  22d.  About  7  P.  M.,  Mr.  Reading  came,  with 
lots  of  plantains,  some  egg-plants,  limes,  etc.  <kv.  Very  glad  to  see 
him. 

"Tuesday,  May  27th.  Mr.  Reading  left,  in  fine  spirits  (at  least 
his  crew)  about  8,  A.  M.  Did  not  iron ;  but  tried  to  dry  the  clothes. 
Feel  the  good  effects  of  the  fresh  fruits,  bananas,  egg-plant,  and  nj6v6 
[ripe  plantains]. 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  169 

"Mon.  June2d.  .  .  .  In  the  evening,  Hamill  called  Simbuve, 
Menge,  Ompwenge,  Njambi,  and  asked  them  if  they  had  all  been  drink- 
ing. [They  had  been  in  a  quarrel  at  a  native  trader's  on  Sunday 
night.]  Their  answers  were  not  prompt;  but  all  were  finally  made 
to  acknowledge  the  sin.  God  seemed  to  help  Hamill  in  speaking 
to  them.  Very  impressive.  Washing  done  without  my  help.  I 
got  up,  for  tea.    Ankombia's  wife  left,  in  a  French  canoe. 

"Tuesday.  Jun  3d.  Husband's  words  in  the  evening  very  im- 
pressive. God  is  certainly  with  us.  His  text  was  from  Ps.  1.1.  Won- 
der if  the  prayers  of  our  friends  in  America  are  helping  us. 

"Sab.  June  8th.  A  quiet  Sabbath.  Husband  talked  in  the  morn- 
ing, on  'isingi'  [little  foxes].  Mbigino,  Rembila,  and  Ngawe  came 
afterwards,  to  inquire  if  he  was  preaching  at  them,  if  he  tho't  they 
had  done  any  thing  wrong,  while  we  were  away  yesterday.  We  could 
only  think  of  guilty  consciences.  God  is  surely  blessing  us  in  our 
hearts,  and  in  the  subdued  spirit  of  the  emj^loyes.  None  have  yet 
confessed,  or  expressed  sorrow. 

"Thurs.  June  12th.  Finished  my  red  wrapper.  Feel  very  tired. 
Still  praying  and  hoping  for  more  of  the  Spirit's  power.  Studying 
the  lesson  on  Paul's  second  missionary  journey. 

"June  19th,  1884.  35  years  old ! !  Oh !  my  God,  help  me  to  glorify 
Thee  this  new  year  in  all  things,  thought,  spoken,  done.  I  am  Thine. 
Cleanse  me  from  all  sin,  and  make  faithful  in  serving  Thee.  Give 
to  me  more  trust.  Help  me  to  'trust  in  the  Lord  forever;  for,  in  the 
Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength.' 

"Sunday,  June  22d.  Quiet  day.  I  read  little.  Feel  more  com- 
fortable than  in  May;  but  not  able  to  do  much.  Did  not  write  up 
my  Bible  lesson.  [Mr.  Menkel  left  on  Monday,  June  23d,  by  a  canoe 
that  had  come  from  Kangwe.] 

"Tues.  June  24th.  The 'Okota'  came  this  P.  M.  .  .  .  Mr. 
Ozanne  [our  generous  Ohio  friend]  sent  me  a  very  pretty  book;  and 
Mrs.  De  Heer  [of  Benita]  wrote  of  Willie  Gault's  death.  I  felt  this 
very  much ;  and,  tho '  I  thought  I  held  loosely  all  hopes  of  motherhood, 
I  find  the  nearness  of  death  makes  me  shudder  with  fear. 

"Wed.  June  2oth.  Trying  hard  to  get  at  the  little  things.  Fin- 
ished machine  sewing  on  the  sacque. 


170  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Thurs.  June  26th.  Made  the  first  night  dress.  Not  a  very  good 
success,  as  the  neck,  with  draw-string,  is  too  rough  for  tender  skin. 

"Fri.  June  27th.  Made,  or  nearly  made  and  finished,  the  niglit 
dresses.     This  time,  a  httle  more  pleasing. 

"Sat.  June  28th.  Gathered  things  together  for  the  journey. 
Trimmed  over  my  hat.  Washed  the  trimming  that  was  on  it,  and 
put  it  back  again.    Very  tired." 

In  a  separate  volume  are  lists  of  "Objects  for  Prayer"  and  "Bible- 
Study."  The  latter  is  a  compilation  of  proof-texts  on  the  Catechism 
answer  to  the  question,  "What  is  God?"  The  former  covers  a 
period  in  July,  1881,  for  Missions,  more  men,  larger  faith,  more 
consecration  on  part  of  young  men,  more  consecration  in  effort 
both  on  mission  fields  and  at  home,  native  converts,  increase  of  zeal 
and  effort  in  the  church.  Minute  specification  of  household  and 
private  interests  during  1883  and  1884,  with  records  of  prayer 
answered  for  most  of  these  petitions. 

On  July  1st,  with  a  crew  of  nine,  I  made,  with  Mrs.  Nassau,  my 
usual  quarterly  journey  to  Kangwe  for  the  church  Communion.  I 
left  the  competent  native  Kombe  carpenter  Metyeba,  with  six  hands 
imder  his  direction,  to  continue  at  the  interior  work  on  the  house. 
He  was  a  quiet  man,  and  my  Galwa  workmen  had  no  difficulty  in 
obeying  him.  I  was  to  try  to  obtain  at  the  Lambarene  trading  houses 
a  large  quantity  of  thatch  for  the  roofing  of  the  new  house ;  for,  the 
"Former"  rains  would  be  coming  by  the  end  of  September.  We 
were  safe  in  our  boat-travel  during  the  mid  dry  season  months  (July 
and  August). 

At  Kangwe  was  to  begin  the  disaster  that  ended  fatally  for  Mrs. ' 
Nassau  a  month  later. 

"July  1st.  Started  in  good  time  about  8.  A.  M.  On  the  way, 
saw  a  whole  manatus  [very  rich  meat];  failed  to  buy  any.  Saw  many 
crocodiles  [the  gavial,  of  India].  Ate  at  Yena.  Slept  in  Gorec's 
trading-house  at  Mbomi.    Found  the  bed  very  hard. 

"Wed'y,  July  2d.  Reached  Mr.  Ermy's  in  time  for  dinner.  Saw 
a  man  shoot  a  crocodile,  and  saw  the  carcase  on  a  log  near  our  boat. 
The  crew  pull  very  slowly;  smell  liquor  on  their  breath.  Reach 
AndCndc  house  at  5.30.  P.  M. 

"Thurs.  July  3d.  Hamill  and  Mr.  Reading  went  to  the  Trading- 
houses,  principally  to  settle  that  bill  with  Mr.  Schiff.     Mr.  S.  away. 


1SS4,    MOTHERHOOD.  171 

Mrs.  and  Miss  Harding  called  in  the  mornino;.  Miss  H.  wished  to 
get  plantains.  Husband  went  on  the  Hill  to  see  sister  Bella,  in  the 
afternoon. 

"Fri.  July  4th.  Sister  Bella  came  in  the  morning,  evidentl}' 
troubled,  and  not  strong.  Mr.  Reading  told  us  a  little  of  the  painful 
scenes  between  sister  and  Miss  Harding.  Neither  Miss  H.  and  her 
mother,  nor  sister,  said  anything  to  us  about  it.  Church  Session- 
Meetings. 

"Sat.  July  5th.  Made  pudding.  Fretted  all  day.  Went  to  Pre- 
paratory Service  in  the  afternoon.  Walked,  of  course.  Tired.  Have 
not  Iain  down  any  afternoon  this  week. 

"Sab.  July  6th.  Last  night,  about  1  o'clock,  I  was  awakened  by 
flow  of  blood.  Called  Hamill.  'Twas  not  profuse;  still,  more  copious 
than  .  .  .  Frightened.  Pains  succeeded;  came  in  spasms. 
Hamill  gave  me  lavender,  and  tried  to  soothe  me;  then,  went  on  the 
Hill  for  a  medical  book  and  medicines.  Sister  Bella  sent  so  many 
things  needed.  Slept  a  little,  towards  morning.  During  the  day, 
suffered.  Hamill  went  to  administer  Communion  in  the  morning. 
Mr.  Reading  very  kind  and  thoughtful.  Hemorrhage  lessens  greatly. 
Handi,  a  Benga  woman  came  on  the  'Falaba';  also  boxes  of  medi- 
cine. Thus  God  provided  for  the  emergency;  only,  we  were  very 
thankful  that  the  occasion  for  their  use  seems  to  be  lessening.  Handi 
went  on  the  Hill;  but,  came  to  spend  the  night  with  me.  [My  study 
of  the  book,  as  I  sat  by  the  bedside  and  watched  symptoms,  made 
me  believe  that  the  threatened  miscarriage  was  complicated  by  what 
obstetricians  call  a  case  of  'placenta  previa.  I  think  it  was  the  final 
cause  of  Mrs.  Nassau's  death.  I  had  without  difficulty  conducted 
cases  of  confinement,  but  never  had  seen  this  dangerous  condition. 
The  childless  widow  Handi,  of  about  Mrs.  Nassau's  age,  an  educated 
member  of  the  Corisco  church,  was  the  one  whom  Rev.  Mr.  Ibia  had 
chosen  for  me,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Myongo  for  my  sister.  Sister's  letter 
gave  her  priority  of  claim.  The  "Falaba"  had  brought  her  early 
that  morning ;  my  sister  was  agreeably  surprised  to  see  her  as  I  brought 
her  in  the  church.  The  "Falaba"  brought  also  my  ordered  medical 
supplies  from  Liverpool,  and  a  mail,  which  I  read  to  Mrs.  Nassau 
in  the  afternoon.  Letters  from  her  mother,  Miss  Flanigan  (of  Phila- 
delphia), Mrs.  Parker,  and  Mrs.  Robinson  (of  Freehold),  Mrs.  Betts 
(of  Towanda),  and  Mrs.  Gulick  (of  Barnegat).  These  were  the  last 
she  received  from  the  United  States.  Mrs.  Ogden  did  not  arrive, 
nor  did  she  come  subsequentl3^] 


172  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Mon.  July  7th.  Slowly  improving.  Renicain  in  bed.  Husband, 
in  afternoon,  went  to  see  Mr.  Schiff.  Mr.  S.  still  away.  Capt. 
Ludovici  promised,  or  offered,  to  take  the  ompavo  [thatch]  and  self 
to  Talaguga,  next  week.  [How  impossible  it  would  have  been  to 
have  taken  Mrs.  Nassau,  in  her  then  condition,  back  to  Talaguga,  the 
usual  four  days'  journey  by  boat!  Here  was  a  Providence:  On  July 
3d,  the  "Okota"  had  attempted  to  go  up  the  Ngunye  branch  of  the 
Ogowe,  but  had  turned  back  on  the  4th,  unable  to  proceed,  because 
of  the  dry  season  low  stage  of  water.  But  it  would  attempt  to  go  up 
the  deeper  Ogowe.     Was  it  turned  back  for  our  need?] 

"Tues.  July  8th.  Husband  went,  with  Ntyindiorema  and  Pi6re, 
to  the  Commissaire  at  Lambarene,  to  see  about  marriage.  I  felt 
better;  but  still  have  pain,  and  dare  not  sit  up  even  in  bed.  The 
civil  ceremony  was  performed,  as  desired;  and  then,  Dr.  Nassau 
united  the  parties,  in  the  afternoon,  by  religious  ceremony.  Sister 
Bella,  and  Mrs.  and  Miss  Harding  dow^i  [at  the  ceremony].  I,  of 
course,  still  in  bed.  The  box  [from  Dr.  Adam]  containing  the  things 
was  opened.  Also,  sister  Bella  sent  down  articles,  in  her  box,  from 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Gosman;  candles  from  Dr.  G.,  a  pair  of  slippers  from 
sister  Letitia,  a  small  needle-box  from  Lida,  a  little  book  of  texts 
from  Jennie,  blotters  from  Belle,  lampshade  from  Lettie,  crab-apple 
jelly,  a  tin  of  corn,  2  ears  of  popcorn." 

[The  two  young  men  had  to  take  their  young  brides  before  the 
Civil  Magistrate,  to  comply  with  French  law,  in  advance  of  any  church 
ceremony.  The  presents  from  the  Lawrenceville  family  touched 
Mrs.  Nassau  very  much,  arriving  just  at  that  time.  How  minutely 
she  enumerates  them  all!] 

"Wed.  July  9th.  Husband  again  went  to  Mr.  Schiff,  and  paid 
the  bill.     Slowly  improving.     Have  good  appetite. 

"Thurs.  July  10th.  Long  day.  Husband  went  after  ompavo 
given  him  by  Mr.  Sinclair.  Feared  he  might  stay  all  night.  Very 
thankful  to  see  him  about  dark.  Sat  up  on  the  lounge.  Handi  spent 
the  day  with  me.  Mr.  R.  very  kind.  Enjoyed  the  oranges  from 
Gaboon. 

"Friday,  July  11th.  Went,  walked,  to  the  lounge  in  the  parlor 
Sat  up  all  day.     Husband  at  home. 

"Sat'y,  July  1-th.  Husband  wont  to  Lcinbarcne  trading-houses 
with  the  crew.  Did  not  return  until  after  dinner.  I  was  up  most  of 
the  day. 


1SS4,    MOTHERHOOD.  173 

"Sab.  July  13th.  Went  to  the  dining-room  to  eat.  Up  aU  day; 
reading.  Both  Husband  and  self  feel  very  very  thankful,  because 
God  has  thus  removed  from  us  a  great  sorrow. 

"Monday,  July  14th.  The  steamer  ['Okota']  goes  to-morrow. 
Hamill  packs.  In  the  evening,  we  three  made  out  a  bill  of  goods 
(eatables)  for  the  next  year.  Went  to  bed  late.  All  tired;  but  ready 
to  start  to-morrow  morn." 

My  sister  was  not  willing  to  pay  the  wages  Handi  asked,  and  the 
latter  was  dissatisfied  with  the  variety  of  services  expected  of  her. 
Amicably  for  all  parties,  she  entered  my  service.  From  Andgnde  to 
Lembarene  was  an  hour's  pull. 

"Tues.  July  15th.  While  Hamill  was  loading  the  'Nellie-Howard' 
we  heard  a  whistle,  and  tho't  the  'Okota'  was  hurrying  us.  We 
reached  the  Trading-house  before  8  A.  M. ;  and  found  the  steamer 
still  there.  Another  steamer,  the  French  launch,  had  alarmed  us  by 
her  whistle.  Handi  goes  with  us  to  Talaguga.  Ate  breakfast  before 
we  started  [from  Andende]  and  also  on  the  steamer.  Mr.  B.,  an  em- 
ploye of  the  French  house,  on  board.     Also,  the  Commissaire  Le 

D.  .     I  ate  my  dinner  on  the  poop-deck  at  the  stern  of  the 

vessel,  where  was  the  awning  and  a  comfortable  chair.  After  this,  I 
ate  with  the  others  in  the  saloon.  We  started  about  9  A.  M. ;  and 
had  some  trouble  [with  low  water]  passing  Mr.  Ermy's;  but,  particu- 
larly at  the  Goree  islands.  The  Capt.  had  to  go  out  in  his  canoe  sev- 
eral times,  to  find  the  passage.  We  slept,  a  little  below  Mbomi.  I 
was  given  the  berth  below  the   deck  in  the  stern.     Slept  very  well. 

"Wed'y.  July  16th.  Wh^n  we  reached  a  point  near  Nkogo, 
trouble  began  in  earnest.  The  Point  was  reached  about  2  P.  M. 
The  Capt.  went  out  [in  a  canoe]  first.  We  went  on  a  little  way;  then 
stuck.  Mr.  Schiff  then  went  out.  He  thought  he  had  found  a  passage. 
Capt.  went  on  with  the  steamer;  and  soon  reached  bottom.  He 
then  went  out  in  the  canoe;  and  came  back  with  the  decision  that 
no  passage  could  be  found,  and  that  next  morning  we  must  return 
to  Lembarene.  Hamill  went  to  the  Nkogo  trading-house  with  Mr. 
S.,  to  see  about  securing  paddlers  for  the  'Nellie-Howard,'  as  we  had 
only  four  [in  order  to  at  once  go  on  to  Talaguga,  as  we  were  already 
half-way  there].  He  came  back  with  the  [steamer's]  Kroo-men; 
but  Mr.  S.  had  gone  with  the  trader  to  the  other  side  [of  the  river] 
seeking  a  passage;  and  at  dark,  returned,  having  found  one.  We 
were  very  glad. 


174  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"Thurs.  July  17th.  We  started  about  7,  A.  M.,  and,  going  down, 
a  little  way,  then  crcssed  without  difficulty.  Mr.  Gallibert  [the 
French  trader  near  us  at  Talaguga]  we  had  passed  and  been  passed 
by  several  times.  Finally,  at  Yeiia,  he  came  alongside  and  on  board. 
Only  saluted  us.  Soon,  he  went  on;  but,  we  again  passed,  before 
reaching  his  place.  At  Yefia,  the  Commissaire  went  with  Mr. 
SchiflF  to  the  [Fang]  village  which  had  been  burned  [by  the  French, 
for  the  assault  on  the  priest],  and  settled  the  difficulty  there,  in  this 
way :— The  Fang  gave  up  to  the  French  [as  hostages]  a  little  boy  and 
an  old  woman.  The  little  boy  was  to  stay  at  the  French  Mission. 
The  old  woman  stays  with  her  people  at  John  Pierce's  [a  Liberian 
trader].  We  reached  Nyare's  [new  village  opposite  our  new  house] 
about  4  P.  ]\I.  I  was  carried  up  the  Hill.  Handi  swept  the  sitting- 
room.     I  feel  stronger  than  when  I  started. 

"July  18th.  Mr.  Schiff,  Mr.  B.,  Capt.  Ludovici,  Commissaire 
Le  D.,  called  in  the  morning.  Passed  coffee  and  pine-apple.  All 
seemed  to  enjoy  the  call.  Interested  in  my  photographs  [the  Bar- 
negat  photograph  album].  Bade  good-bye.  No  Prayer-meeting,  as 
so  few  came  to  Prayers.  Only  Ampamba,  in  the  [Catechumen]  Class. 
Metyeba  [according  to  agreement]  went  down  on  the  steamer. 

"Sab.  July  20th.  Quiet  day;  but,  I  have  not  worshiped  as  I 
ought.  Wliile  at  Prayers  in  the  evening,  we  heard  a  cry,  and  think 
that  some  animal  has  taken  a  mother  hen. 

"Mon.  July  21st.  Washing  done  well;  Handi,  ]\Ibigino,  and 
Mambo.  I  was  very  tired  yesterday,  and  feel  uncomfortable  to-day. 
Hamill  not  well;  feverish. 

"Tuesday  22d.  Ironing  partly  finished.  Huiuli  distressed  because 
I  would  not  let  Mambo  remain  to  help  her  and  Mbigino.  Mbigino 
complains;  says  he  is  sick.  I  wrote  a  note  to  Husband  for  another 
person ;  but,  when  I  saw  all  on  the  roof  at  work  [at  thatching],  I  did 
not  ask  for  another.  But,  I  showed  the  note  to  Hamill.  He  was  much 
troubled;  decided  to  speak  to  M.  Called  him,  before  prayer-meeting. 
Not  satisfactory  reply  given.  Then,  after  consultation,  we  decided  to 
refuse  him  the  privilege  of  working,  until  he  should  promise  to  behave. 
After  prayer-meeting,  himself  asked  pardon;  and  Hamill  prayed 
with  him.    This  is  occasion  for  mnriy  thanks  to  God. 

"Wed.  July  23d.  Handi  finished  ironing.  She  complains  of  her 
eyes  and  weariness.    Sewed  a  little. 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  175 

"Thurs.  July  24th.  Handi  and  I  had  prayed  together.  She  seems 
quite  discontented.  Still,  tells  me  of  the  temptations  she  has  met 
and  overcome.  The  engineer  of  the  'Okota/  on  the  up-journey, 
tried  her  purity.  Very  indignant.  Hamill  reading  'Young  Mrs. 
Jardine '  aloud.  We  were  startled  by  a  goat  making  a  peculiar  gurg- 
ling sound;  both  of  us  said,  'Njega'  [leopard].  Hamill  went  out  with 
a  gun,  light,  and  employes.     Saw  neither  goat  nor  leopard. 

"Fri.  July  2oth.     Busy  making  flannel  skirts.     Handi  sewing. 

"Sat.  July  26th.  Ompwenge  and  Mambo  found  the  carcase  half- 
eaten  of  our  Okanda  goat,  the  one  given  us  by  the  '  Governor.'  Killed 
the  little  goat,  as  we  feared  the  njega  would  soon  take  it  too.  We 
have  lost  a  hen  recently,  too.  Handi  went  [visiting]  to  Nyare's  vil- 
lage; returned  with  2  bottles  of  lavender-water,  and  ingwesg  [pre- 
sented to  her  by  the  trader].  Husband  went  to  Ndonamavuna's 
[usual  Saturday  afternoon  preaching].  Just  at  dark,  Pigre  and  wife 
(Apoyo),  Simbuve  and  the  other  three  workmen  came.  They  had 
been  a  week  on  the  way  from  Kangwe. 

"Sab.  27th.  Finished  the  second  Pamphlet  of  the  Bible  Course 
of  Dr.  Worden.  Read  missionary  news.  Oh!  for  the  influence  of 
God's  Spirit,  for  more  love  for  Christ,  for  more  love  for  souls. 

"Mon.  28th.    Washing  well  done,  I  think." 

This  date,  the  28th,  is  the  very  last  record  by  Mrs.  Nassau  in  her 
diary.  But  on  that  same  date,  in  her  book  of  "Letters  Sent,"  is  a 
list — "to  Cousin  Floyd  [Bartlett]  and  Kittie  [his  wife,  Warsaw,  N.  Y.]; 
Katie  Storms  [Barnegat,  N.  J.];  Aunt  Eliza;  cousin  Hattie  Saxton; 
Mr.  P.  M.  Ozanne;  Charlie  [Nassau]." 

The  very  last  record  of  letters  sent  is  on  July  29th;  "To  Miss 
M.  C.  Taylor"  [Bordentown,  N.  J.];  and  on  July  30th,  "to  Miss  Hattie 
Todd  "  [Holmanville]. 

These  letters  were  carried  by  Dr.  Ballay,  Count  De  Brazza's 
associate,  who,  on  the  29th,  with  five  canoes  and  about  one  hundred 
men,  overland  from  the  Kongo,  on  his  way  to  France,  voluntarily 
stopped  to  call  on  us,  and  offered  to  take  letters  to  Libreville. 

The  next  day,  July  30th,  the  employes  were  afraid  to  go  to  the 
spring  for  water,  because  of  the  scare  about  leopards.  That  night, 
while  we  were  compelled  to  sit  up  late,  watching  against  an  invasion 
of  the  house  by  the  vicious  " Driver"  ants,  we  heard  an  outcry  among 
the  employes  about  a  leopard,  but  I  did  not  go  out  to  see  about  it; 


176  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

the  ants  were  enough  to  be  attended  to,  and  I  doubted  about  there 
being  a  leopard  just  at  that  hour. 

On  Thursday,  July  31st,  Mrs.  Nassau  was  not  feeling  comfortably. 
She  had  lost  sleep  on  account  of  the  "  Drivers."  Much  talking  among 
the  employes  at  the  water-side  annoyed  her.  Also,  she  was  wearied 
with  sewing.  After  completing  the  draft  of  a  letter  to  Rev.  M.  L. 
Cook,  in  the  evening,  she  retired  early.  It  was  her  very  last  hand- 
writing. Here  Mrs.  Nassau's  diaries  cease,  and  I  take  up  my  own 
story  of  a  week's  conflict  with  pain,  danger,  and  death. 

I  have  a  minute  record  of  almost  every  hour,  day  and  night,  of 
the  eight  days,  Friday,  August  1st,  Saturday,  Sunday,  Monday, 
Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday,  and  Friday,  the  8th.  The  life-blood 
dripping  away,  from  the  first  rush  at  1  A.  M.  of  the  1st  to  the  last 
drop  at  4  A.  M.  of  the  8th.  During  all  those  days,  no  work  was  done, 
but  my  men  quietly  awaited  my  call.  Handi  was  with  me,  a  thought- 
ful, helpful,  sympathetic  woman. 

There  was  no  lack  of  medicine,  water-bags,  expedients,  and  ar- 
rangements of  bedstead,  pillow,  and  bedding.  Pains  came  and 
intermitted.  Nausea  almost  persistent  and  vomiting  frequent.  No 
lack  of  a  variety  of  kinds  and  modes  of  preparation  of  foods  and 
drinks.  But  an  inability  to  retain  them  more  than  half  an  hour, 
until  the  patient  became  faint  and  weak  with  hunger.  There  were 
changes  of  position  to  relieve  soreness,  but  the  changes  renewed  the 
hemorrhages;  and  then  came  the  styptics  and  other  medicines  and 
appliances. 

When  there  was  possibility  that  a  treatment  good  for  herself 
might  be  bad  for  the  child,  she  refused  it.  She  said  she  felt  resigned 
in  God's  hands,  and  had  no  regrets  for  having  come  to  Africa,  for 
being  my  wife,  or  for  becoming  a  mother.  At  no  time  were  there  any 
symptoms  of  the  African  fever.  There  was  a  gleam  of  hope  on  Sabbath, 
August  3d,  when  all  symptoms  improved,  and  we  thought  that  God 
was  answering  our  prayer  in  our  way.  As  the  days  went  on,  she  slept 
at  times;  but  it  was  not  refreshing.  It  was  the  sleep  of  exhaustion. 
At  first  she  liad  been  calm  and  composed.  Later,  there  was  nervous 
starting  at  small  sounds,  as  the  fall  of  a  spoon  or  the  motions  of  the 
cat.  The  marriage  ring  slipping  unnoticed  from  her  thin  finger  and 
lost  for  a  while  among  the  bed-coverings,  distressed  her  until  it  was 
found  and  replaced.  By  morning  of  the  7th,  the  pains,  that  had  been 
irregular  both  in  locality  and  character,  were  recognized  as  normal 
for  a  delivery,  and  continued,  with  interruptions  and  cessations,  all 
day.    She  objected  to  the  obstetric  process  of  "turning." 

Later,  at  9  P.  M.,  the  forceps  could  have  been  used,  but  it  also  was 
refused,  lest  the  babe  be  injured. 


1884,    MOTHERHOOD.  177 

And  when,  at  11.30  P.  M.,  the  infant  was  finally  born,  the  mother 
was  bleeding  to  death.  It  was  morning  of  the  8th.  In  the  room  was 
the  lad  Ngawe,  fanning,  at  her  wish,  though  all  the  doors  and  windows 
were  open  to  the  cold  night  air;  and  Apoyo  in  the  adjacent  room  with 
Handi  and  the  baby.  But  after  a  while  the  two  Galwas  became 
sleepy,  and  I  sent  them  to  their  houses.  Then  came  the  ominous 
ringing  in  ear  and  darkness  of  sight. 

She  had  been  speaking  incoherently  in  Mpongwe,  but  now  dis- 
tinctly in  English.  We  spoke  of  the  babe's  name.  Handi  brought 
the  babe,  and  I  laid  her  on  the  mother's  breast.  She  placed  her  hand, 
already  cold,  on  its  head  and  said:  "My  little  girl,  whom  I  shall  never 
see  on  earth,  God  gave  you  to  me."  And  Handi  removed  the  child. 
There  was  spoken  the  wife's  loving  estimate  of  her  husband. 

And  "Commend  my  little  girl  to  the  love  of  your  sons."  And 
"Send  that  letter  to  Mr.  Cook  (copying  it)  for  all  it  means."  And  her 
messages  of  love  to  her  mother  and  brother.  Then,  proposing  an 
impossible  arrangement,  "if  you  can  keep  my  little  girl."  [It  had 
been  our  agreement  that  we  would  not  part  with  our  children,  as  had 
been  done  with  my  boys,  during  their  infancy.]  I  solemnly  promised 
that,  God  helping  me,  I  would  not  part  with  the  babe.  Mrs.  Nassau 
was  dying,  not  of  disease,  but  of  loss  of  blood. 

And  as  the  Shadow  drew  nearer,  she  spoke,  not  to  me,  but  to  God, 
in  few,  separated  words.  I  asked  that  Jesus  would  put  His  arms 
about  her  as  she  should  pass  through  the  Waters.  She  interrupted, 
saying,  "He  is;  I  am  not  afraid;  but,  for  you ." 

She  spoke  no  more.  But  her  eyes  looked,  her  lijDS  moved;  a 
beautiful  smile,  and  the  breath  sighed  away.  It  was  4.20  A.  M.  of 
the  8th  of  August.  The  morning  star  was  still  shining,  just  before 
the  dawn.     I  stepped  to  Handi 's  room  and  told  her. 


178  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Afterwards. 

It  would  have  been  maddening  if,  in  the  reflections  of  those  hours, 
there  had  been  anything  needed  for  which  there  would  be  the  bitter 
regret,  "0!  if  I  had  only  had  so-and-so!"  That  Liverpool  order  to 
Dr.  Adam  had  supplied  every  possible  need  for  both  mother  and 
child.  But  there  have  always  remained  two  bitter  regrets,  that  no 
woman  of  the  Mission  had  come  to  their  fellow- woman's  hour  of  need, 
and  that  I  was  not  a  surgeon.  Yet,  looking  at  the  situation  in  the 
light  of  other  examples,  I  read  of  other  women,  even  in  the  United 
States,  in  precisely  the  same  case,  having  died,  though  surrounded 
by  parents,  sisters,  nurses,  doctors,  and  a  wealth  of  medicines,  com- 
forts, and  appliances. 

I  can  never  know  whether  the  birth  was  premature  or  at  full  term. 
From  the  imperfect  and  delayed  data  given  me  by  Mrs.  Nassau,  we 
had  calculated  for  the  latter  part  of  September.  Our  plan  included 
going  down  to  Kangwe,  about  the  middle  of  September,  for  the  sev- 
eral reasons  that  she  might  have  civilized  companionship,  that  Mrs. 
Ogden,  in  her  coming,  might  be  saved  the  last  sixty-five  miles  of  her 
journey,  and  that  I  might  attend  to  the  quarterly  Communion.  Was 
the  birth  premature,  induced  by  that  week  of  hemorrhage?  Was 
that  the  reason  that  the  babe,  though  perfectly  formed  and  crying 
lustily,  was  so  thin  and  small,  weighing  only  five  and  one-quarter 
pounds? 

There  was  the  babe  to  be  fed  and  clothed.  I  began,  with 
unskilled  hand  and  mode,  the  solemn  mother-task,  which  I 
retained,  aided  only  by  native  hands,  for  more  than  six  years. 
During  the  first  two  years  aided  by  the  excellent  Handi;  during 
more  than  two  other  years  by,  successively,  eight  incompetent, 
half-civilized  (and  not  all  of  them  Christian)  Ogowe  young  women ; 
and  during  the  final  more  than  two  years,  by  a  superiorly  edu- 
cated Christian  woman,  Anyentyuwe,  of  the  Mpongwe  tribe,  as 
nurse  and  governess. 

In  pursuance  of  the  pledge  to  my  dying  wife,  and  because  I  thought 
(and  still  think)  it  was  best,  but  against  the  protests  of  relatives  and 
other  friends  and  members  of  the  Mission,  I  kept  the  little  Mary  with 
me  in  Africa  until  she  was  six  and  one-half  years  old,  in  good  health. 
I  left  her  in  the  United  States,  not  until  she  was  8,  and  then  only  for 
her  education. 


AFTERWARDS.  179 

There  was  the  coffin  to  be  made.  The  skillful  Metyeba  was  gone, 
but  one  of  the  ordinary  workmen,  Ompwenge,  helped  me  with  saw 
and  plane. 

French  law  in  the  tropics  requires  interment  to  be  made  twelve 
hours  after  the  decease.  But  for  months  I  had  ceased  to  think  of 
the  French  Government  as  a  factor  in  my  life  for  any  matter  of  courtesy 
or  even  obedience.  I  kept  my  dead  for  thirty-six  hours.  There  was 
no  corruption ;  for,  it  was  bloodless  and  in  its  organs  there  had  been 
no  fever.  French  law  requires  that  death  shall  be  reported,  and  permit 
for  burial  requested.  I  did  not  request.  Why  should  I  think  of 
Njoli  officials,  with  whom  communication,  even  of  courtesy,  had  been 
prohibited?  (Subsequently,  I  did  report  when  applying  for  a  birth 
certificate.)  I  sent  word  to  no  white  man  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
Fang  were  my  friends.  They  sat  in  their  villages  in  distress,  refraining 
even  from  going  to  their  daily  garden  work. 

On  Saturday  the  grave  was  to  be  dug.  My  men  made  it  among 
the  quartz  boulders  of  the  steep  hillside  near  the  new  house  that  was 
to  have  been  hers.  At  4.30  P.  M.,  my  eight  young  men  and  lads, 
Ompwenge,  Pi6re,  Simbuwe,  Nambo,  Alundo,  Mbigino,  Isambo,  and 
Ngawe,  carried  the  coffin  down  hill,  across  the  log  bridge,  and  up  to 
the  grave.  Onjingo  stayed  at  the  house  with  Handi  and  the  baby. 
Fang  stood  silently.  They  could  not  understand  a  burial  that  was 
devoid  of  yells  of  grief.  They  listened  to  my  short  address  and  to 
my  prayer. 

On  Sunday,  as  if,  like  Ezekiel,  it  had  been  said  to  me,  "neither 
mourn  nor  weep,"  "so  I  spoke  unto  the  people  in  the  morning."  For 
a  sermon,  I  told  them  the  story  of  Mrs.  Nassau's  life,  and  drew  lessons 
from  her  studiousness  of  the  Bible,  prayerfulness,  and  truth.  There 
was  the  Bible  class  in  the  afternoon.  She  would  not  have  liked  me 
to  neglect  it.  And  in  the  evening  I  spoke  of  God's  great  love  for  us, 
greater  even  than  (as  I  illustrated)  Mrs.  Nassau's  for  me  and  for  the 
people  of  Africa. 

Then,  on  Monday  the  11th,  a  canoe  and  crew  were  to  be  sent  to 
Kangwe,  with  letters  to  the  Mission,  to  the  Board,  and  to  American 
relatives  and  friends.  About  10  A.  M.,  Mons.  Kerraoul  and  a  French 
Protestant  associate  of  his  called,  on  condolence!  He  mentioned 
that,  for  the  week  past,  he  had  had  the  company  of  nine  friends,  who 
had  arrived  overland  from  the  Kongo.  It  was  a  bitter  thought  to 
me  that,  among  those  men,  there  was  a  physician,  Dr.  Manas,  and  I 
had  not  known  it!  M.  Kerraoul  told  me  that  I  should  have  sent  for 
his  assistance.  I  reminded  him  that  he  himself  had  forbidden  me 
approach  to  Njoli  Post  under  any  circumstances.  He  said  that  the 
restriction  had  recently  been  removed,  and  offered  any  aid  from  the 


180  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

physician  for  the  babe.  Then,  on  the  12th,  I  began  to  copy,  for 
Rev.  M.  L.  Cook,  Mrs.  Nassau's  letter  to  him;  her  very  last  writing. 
It  being  an  important  letter,  she  had  made  a  first  draft,  with  many 
changes  and  interlineations,  intending  to  copy  it  next  day.  I  was 
sitting  at  her  side  that  last  evening,  and  she  informed  me  as  to  some 
of  its  wording: — 

"July  31,  1SS4,  Talaguga,  Ogoave,  W.  A. 
'^Rev.  M.  L.  Cook:    Dear  Friend, 

"Your  letter  of  Mar.  14th  was  received  June  18th.  We  had  no- 
ticed your  return  from  the  Home  field.  Is  not  this  a  peculiar  feature 
of  Home  Missions;  the  shortness  of  the  stay  of  their  missionaries 
in  their  appointed  field?  While  I  acknowledge,  with  shame,  the  fre- 
quent return  of  many  Foreign  workers,  still  I  think  it  much  easier 
for  the  Home-worker  to  lay  down  his  special  task  than  for  the  true 
Foreign  missionary.  I  am  sure  of  this,  that,  to  be  a  successful  Foreign 
missionary,  '  stick-atit-ive-ness '  is  a  very  necessary  trait. 

"And,  this  brings  me  to  speak  of  the  young  lady  you  mention, 
who  has  a  desire  to  become  a  Foreign  Missionary,  and  is  looking 
toward  Africa  as  her  chosen  field.  For  this,  I  am  glad.  You  doubt- 
less know  that  the  French  have  closed  all  our  Schools,  because  they 
were  not  conducted  according  to  French  law.  All  teaching  must 
be  done  in  the  French  language;  even  the  vernacular  was  for- 
bidden. There  is  not  one  among  us  who  is  a  fluent  French  scholar; 
therefore  not  one  who  can  fulfill  the  requirements  of  the  law. 
We  do  hope  to  have  the  School  re-opened  in  Libreville;  but,  the 
teacher  of  French  must  first  be  secured.  The  Commandant  in  charge 
this  year,  being  very  much  more  lenient  toward  the  American  Mission 
than  his  predecessor,  has  promised  to  ignore  schools  which  may  be 
carried  on  in  the  vernacular  in  our  out-stations,  if  we  comply  wi-th 
the  law  at  Baraka. 

"  Do  you  read  Dr.  Patterson's  Presh.  Journal?  If  so,  in  the  number 
dated  April  3d,  your  friend  will  find  on  first  page  a  very  correct  synop- 
sis of  qualifications  needed  to  make  a  successful  missionary.  Let 
no  one  attempt  this  work  without  being  possessed  with  the  first  test, 
earnest,  single-eyed  devotion  of  heart  and  life  to  the  service  of  the 
Redeemer.  The  second  is  also  most  important,  a  thorough  conse- 
cration, and  ability  to  impart  knowledge.  No  one  should  come  to 
this  part  of  Africa,  unless  she  was  able  to  write  and  speak  and  teach 
the  French  language.  That  grace,  which  will  enable  one  to  work 
with  associates,  whether  congenial  or  not,  I  would  particularly  em- 
phasize, in  writing  to  the  unmarried  lady-worker.  To  every  one 
who  is  looking  forward  to  For.  Work,  I  would  say:  do  not  suppose 
that  because  one  is  on  a  Foreign  field,  and  oiigagod  in  the  labor  of  a 


AFTERWARDS.  181 

Foreign  missionary,  therefore  she  will  be  exempt  from  temptations; 
or,  that  hohness  in  tho't  and  life  is  to  be  more  easily  attained  than 
in  home-land.  I  could  write  many  things  of  discouragement  and 
encouragement;  but,  will  refer  her  to  Mrs.  H.  N.  Paul,  of  1334 
Chestnut  St. 

"Our  work  here:  it  is  the  removing  of  the  deejDly  rooted  vigorous 
growth  of  centuries  of  sin  in  its  most  loathsome,  degraded,  and  su- 
perstitious forms.  It  is  laying  the  foundations  of  all  knowledge 
spiritual,  and  that  too  with  the  materials  rotten  with  ignorance  and 
sin.  There  is  no  word  to  be  found  that  gives  the  true  idea  of  faith- 
fulness. 'Holiness'  is  transcribed  into  a  word  [orunda]  which  desig- 
nates a  thing  forbidden  by  their  fetish  doctors!  Their  idea  of  God 
is  that  of  a  Power  offended  and  re^^engeful.  Results  of  the  two  years 
and  a  half  seed-sowing  among  these  cannibals  have  not  yet  appeared. 
These  cannibals  show  some  respect  for  the  Sabbath ;  but,  have  shown, 
as  yet,  no  desire  for  knowledge  of  any  kind.  Their  covetousness  for 
this  world's  goods  is  wonderfully  developed.  The  Husband  remembers 
being  introduced  to  one  'beardless,'  whose  face  and  full  habit  decided 
that  he  was  not  fitted  for  Africa.  But,  the  work  is  one,  if  we  only 
do  the  part  appointed  us  bj^  the  Master.  My  kindest  regards  to  your 
wife,  whose  sister  Hattie  I  well  knew,  and  whose  younger  sister  I 
met  in  Towanda  in  '81.  Yes,  the  mountains  (as  you  find  among  them) 
do  'bring  peace'  and  happiness  in  a  degree  that  would  surprise  and 
will  please  many  anxious  home-friends.  My  heart  does,  at  times, 
ache  for  friends  and  the  old  home  associations ;  but,  deeper  than  the 
pain,  is  humble  gratitude  that  God  has  permitted  me  to  be  one  of 
His  workers  in  this  land,  and  as  such  has  so  filled  my  cup  with  what 
is  to  every  woman's  heart  the  choicest  of  all  earthly  joys,  the  Hus- 
band's love;  which  words,  with  meaning  to  the  highest  degree  in- 
tensified, are  weak." 

I  found  among  Mrs.  Nassau's  memoranda,  schedules  of  daily 
work  for  herself  and  the  servants.  Of  letters  to  be  written  to  friends, 
schools,  churches,  and  societies.  And  for  the  menu  of  our  table. 
There  being  only  nine  months'  supply  on  hand,  in  order  to  make 
a  comfortable  variety  from  da}^  to  day,  and  yet  not  exhaust  any  one 
article  of  food  in  advance  of  all  the  rest,  she  had  made  a  list  of  "Sup- 
plies for  9  months,  commencing  May  1884."  Here  lies  the  list  for 
the  months  June  to  November,  every  day  of  each  month  marked 
with  its  respective  vegetable.  Instead,  therefore,  in  my  grief  and 
isolation,  of  having  to  reckon  what  to  order  for  my  lone  table  (among 
my  new  cares  of  the  housekeeping  and  the  baby),  I  looked  onl,y  at 
that  schedule.     For  four  months  it  seemed  as  if  she  was  daily  pro- 


182  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

viding  and  arranging  for  me,  and  as  if  she  should  come  and  sit  at  the 
vacant  place  and  plate  that  was  kept  for  her. 

During  the  next  twelve  months,  and  longer,  there  came  to  me  the 
spoken  and  wiitten  evidences  of  the  deep  respect  held  for  Mrs.  Nassau 
by  all  who  knew  her. 

From  African  sources. 

Her  servants,  and  the  adjacent  villages,  and  delegations  of  Fang 
visiting  from  distant  places. 

All  the  members  of  the  Mission  individually,  and  the  formal 
action  of  the  Mission  collectively.  And  even  from  the  trading  com- 
munity. 

From  United  States  sources: 

My  own  and  Mrs.  Nassau's  relatives  and  friends. 

Secretaries  of  the  Foreign  Board,  Rev.  Drs.  Lowrie  and  Ellin- 
wood. 

The  Churches  and  W.  F.  M.  Societies  and  Bands  with  which  she 
was  connected. 

Special  commemorative  newspaper  articles. 

My  very  dear  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Pratt,  of  Albany,  N.  Y., 
sent  me  a  copy  of  Lowell's  "God!    do  not  let  my  loved  one  die!" 

A  newspaper  article  from  one  of  her  Towanda  teachers,  Rev. 
Mr.  Dean. 

A  beautiful  tribute  by  Miss  Mary  Silliman,  of  Warsaw,  N.  Y,, 
entitled,  "A  Voice  of  the  Master." 

The  Foreign  Board's  short  "Recent  Intelligence"  notice. 

The  Presbyterian  Journal  Obituary  of  October  10th,  1884,  with 
the  editor's,  Rev.  Dr.  R.  M.  Patterson's,  special  notice. 

The  Philadelphia  W.  F.  M.  S.  Directors'  Meeting  of  November 
4th,  1884. 

A  minute  from  a  missionary  meeting  in  the  Fifth  Presbyterian 
Church,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  November  7th. 

Memorial  services  in  the  Lakewcxxl,  Baniegat,  and  Holmanville 
churches. 


AFTERWARDS.  183 

A  copy  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dashiell's  "In  Memoriam "  address  at  the 
Holmanville  Memorial  Service,  November  9tli. 

A  remarkable  letter  from  Miss  Laura  Hopkins,  of  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  under  date  November  11th.  She  had  never  known  Mrs.  Nassau, 
and  I  knew  of  her  only  through  her  friend,  my  former  fellow-mis- 
sionary, Miss  Jenny  Lush  (later  Mrs.  Smith). 

Obituary  by  her  uncle,  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  in  the  Presbyterian  Jour- 
nal of  November  20th,  1884. 

The  following  article  from  the  Foreign  Missionary  monthly,  of 
date  December,   1884: — 


"Beinc^  Dead,  She  Yet  Speaketh. 

"Died  at  Talaguga,  Africa,  August  8th,  Mary  Brunette, 
daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  Julius  Foster,  and  wife  of  Rev.  R.  H. 
Nassau,  M.  D. 

"The  death  of  Mrs.  Nassau  has  filled  the  hearts  of  many  friends 
of  missions  with  i^eculiar  grief!  It  seems  but  yesterday  that  she 
sailed  for  Africa,  with  the  well  considered  expectation  of  sharing 
with  her  newly  married  husband  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a 
pioneer  work  far  up  the  Ogowe.  Mary  Brunette  Foster  had  conse- 
crated herself  to  the  mission  work,  with  the  expectation  of  going, 
as  a  single  lady,  to  Persia ;  but,  yielding  to  an  attachment  which  was 
subsequently  formed  for  Dr.  R.  H.  Nassau,  and  feeling  that  she  would 
still  be  in  the  line  of  her  cherished  object,  she  accepted  his  invita- 
tion to  return  with  him  to  his  field  of  peculiar  hardship  in  Equatorial 
Africa.  Before  sailing,  she  had  deeply  impressed  the  Christian  women 
of  her  own  Presbytery  and  Synod  with  the  intelligence  and  depth  of 
her  missionary  spirit. 

"She  had  been  deeply  beloved  as  a  teacher  before  her  consecra- 
tion to  the  mission  work,  and  she  left  no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  any 
that  in  whatever  field  her  lot  should  be  cast,  she  would  prove  a  most 
successful  laborer  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  At  Talaguga,  in  a  rude  abode 
which  her  husband  built  mostly  by  his  own  hands,  surrounded  by 
savages  still  living  in  the  wilderness  of  nature,  and  for  whom  every- 
thing remained  to  be  done,  she  prosecuted  her  work  not  only  with 
cheerfulness,  but  with  real  joy.  Her  death,  though  sudden,  had  not 
been  wholly  unanticipated  as  a  possible  event,  but  the  circumstances 
of  it  were  peculiarly  sad.  In  her  last  hours  no  iDhysician  in  regular 
practice  attended  her,  and  no  white  woman  was  at  hand  to  render 
assistance  in  the  tender  assiduities  which  were  needed  under  such 


184  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

trying  circumstances.     Her  husband  was  compelled  to  direct  every- 
thing, even  the  preparation  of  the  coffin  and  the  grave. 

"She  has  passed  to  her  reward  as  a  real  martyr  to  the  cause  of 
the  Gospel  in  Africa.  Another  of  those  significant  graves  which  now 
surround  the  coast  of  that  dark  land  has  been  made;  another  out- 
post of  the  picket  line  has  been  consecrated.  Why  has  this  one 
woman  been  called  to  give  so  much,  even  her  life,  while  many 
hesitate  to  recognize  any  claim  of  the  ^Master  for  the  heathen  that  are 
perishing?" 

An  extract  from  the  ]\Iinutes  of  the  Philadelphia  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society's  Directors'  Meeting,  December  2d. 

An  In  Memoriam  by  Miss  Hannah  More  Johnson,  in  the  Presby- 
terian Journal  of  February  5th,  1885. 

An  Appreciation  from  mj'-  Easton,  Pa.,  childhood's  playmate. 
Rev.  Prof.  S.  J.  Coffin,  Ph.  D.,  who  had  kno^ai  Mrs.  Nassau  at  Towan- 
da,  printed  in  the  Reporter-Journal  of  that  town,  of  date  February 
26th,  1885. 

The  Thirteenth  Annual  Pieport  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society  of  the  Presbytery  of  Monmouth,  in  its  meeting,  held  at 
Freehold,  N.  J.,  April  14th,  1885,  with  address  by  Mrs.  Parker.  In 
connection  with  it,  were  held  memorial  services  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Monmouth,  with  addresses  by  Rev.  Drs.  Chandler,  Dashiell,  Brown, 
and  Hodge,  the  Presbytery  giving  an  entire  afternoon  session  in  Mrs. 
Nassau's  honor,  a  distinction  not  before  conferred  on  anj^  even  of  its 
own  members. 

Mrs.  Parker's  Address. 

"Friends  of  Monmouth  Preshyterial  Society:  Thirteen  years  have 
passed  since  first  we  assembled  to  work  for  the  extension  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ,  as  it  shall  be  influenced  by  the  conversion  of 
heathen  women,  brought,  through  our  instrumentality,  out  of  dark- 
ness into  the  marvelous  light  of  the  Gospel.  It  has  ever  been  a  joy 
to  meet  our  sisters  in  Christ  and  hold  spiritual  communion  with  them. 
We  salute  you  in  His  name  and  welcome  you  to  this,  our  religious 
home.  ]\Iay  the  Spirit's  power  be  manifested  in  this  assembly, 
uniting  us  more  closel}'  to  one  another  and  to  our  Lord. 

"We  are  assembled  to-day  under  the  shadow  of  a  great  sorrow. 
'As  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  God's  ways  higher 
than  our  ways,  and  His  thoughts  than  our  thoughts.'  We  may  not 
know  why  the  lovel}',  the  gifted,  the  consecrated  are  taken  from 
useful  labors  iu  the  Church  militant,  but  in  submission  to  His  unerr- 


AFTERWARDS.  185 

ing  wisdom,  we  must  say,  'Thy  will  be  done.'  .She  who  gave  us  at 
our  Annual  Meetings  the  Narrative  of  the  work  of  the  year,  con- 
veyed in  the  glowing  utterances  of  a  consecrated  heart,  who,  at  the 
call  of  the  Master,  left  home  and  country  to  represent  us  in  benighted 
Africa,  having  finished  the  work  which  He  gave  her  to  do,  has  gone 
to  the  bright  home  on  high,  there  to  join  her  predecessor  in  this 
Presbyterial  office,  in  the  'General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the  first 
born.'  They  are  among  the  cloud  of  witnesses  who  compass  us 
about,  watching  us  as  we  run  the  Christian  race.  This  thought  is 
inspiring:  even  while  I  speak,  an  indefinable  sense  of  nearness  to 
the  glorified,  and  of  spiritual  communion  with  them  comes  over  the 
soul.  We  cannot  lift  the  veil  that  hides  them  from  our  view,  but 
faith  beholds  them,  'Xot  unclothed,  but  clothed  upon'  in  spiritual 
loveliness  and  a  beauty  not  of  earth,  still  serving  the  Master,  whom 
on  earth  they  delighted  to  honor.     They  have  seen  the  Heavenly  City, 

'"The  Palace  of  the  Everlasting  King, 
In  gates  of  pearl,  its  edifice  of  gold; 
Its  very  streets  of  pure  crystalline  gold.' 

Walls  of  jasper  and  all  manner  of  precious  stones  surround  their 
blest  abode.  Thus  did  the  Xew  Jerusalem  appear  in  Apocalyptic 
vision.     Would  we  call  them  from  that  state  of  purity  and  bliss? 

"'The  dear  delight 
Seems  so  to  be  desired,  perhaps  we  might.' 

No,  let  us,  rather,  so  live,  that  through  infinite  mercy  we  shall  be 
permitted  to  rejoin  them.  Laying  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin 
that  does  so  easily  beset  us,  be  it  ours  to  run  with  patience  the 
heavenly  race,  that  we  also  ma}'  obtain  an  unfading  crown.  Voices 
that  have  often  been  heard  in  our  assemblies  are  calling  to  us — 
sweet  voices  that  shall  never  again  speak  to  us  on  earth.  Twice 
has  the  hand  that  held  the  pen  for  us  been  paralyzed  by  death; 
thus  God  speaks  to  us  in  language  that  cannot  be  misunderstood. 
Be  vigilant,  be  earnest,  for  service  here  will  be  ended  ere  long. 

"These,  our  friends,  Avere  daughters  and  wives  of  clergj'men. 
They  were  attractive,  intellectual,  cultured,  enthusiastic  in  the 
Master's  work,  wholly  consecrated  to  His  service.  Each  left  a  babe 
to  be  cared  for  by  other  hands  than  hers.  Yet  in  that  time  when 
the  heart  yearns  over  the  helpless  little  one,  when  thoughts  of  the 
desolation  that  must  come  upon  the  husband  and  father  must  have 
been  painful  indeed,  they  were  enabled  through  grace  to  pass  peace- 
fully to  the  World  of  Light,  confiding  all  their  cares  in  Him  who 


186  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

careth  for  us.  One  left  a  happy  home  in  Christian  America,  the 
other  soared  on  high  fi'om  the  habitation  of  a  pioneer  Missionary  in 
African  wilds.  The  Lord  appoints  the  s^^heres  of  duty  for  His 
servants;  it  is  required  of  them  that  they  be  found  faithful.  From 
•  the  organization  of  our  Presbyterial  Society  they  were  among  our 
most  active  members;  always  present  in  our  Annual  Assemblies, 
always  earnestly  desirous  for  its  increased  usefulness.  For  it  they 
labored  and  prayed,  and,  like  watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zion,  they 
surveyed  our  Presbyterial  territory,  desiring  to  see  the  women  and 
children  of  the  Churches  joining  the  ranks  of  our  Missionary  army. 
"Mary  Foster  Nassau  was  no  ordinary  woman.  In  early  life  she 
gave  promise  of  fitness  for  the  sphere  of  usefulness  to  which  God 
had  assigned  her.  Of  her  character  and  appearance  during  child- 
hood at  Towanda,  we  have  an  account  from  some  who  remember 
her  in  the  dawning  of  intellectual  and  moral  life.  A  record  of  the 
impression  which  she  then  made  has  been  given  thus: 

'"Her  youthful  face  was  the  impersonation  of  sincerity  and 
purity,  combined  with  the  joy  of  innocent  childhood.  The  piece 
she  rehearsed  was  entirely  consonant  with  her  nature  and  it  fell 
with  grace  from  the  lips  of  a  little  girl  some  eleven  or  twelve  years 
of  age.  She  was  known  for  her  sweet  disposition  and  lovely  char- 
acter, and  the  impress  was  not  transient.  As  a  child  she  was  the 
pattern  of  propriety;  and  it  was  a  common  saying  that  she  was  as 
nearly  perfect  as  any  one  could  be.' 

"Another,  after  picturing  her  jDersonal  appearance,  says: 
'"She  was  quick  in  her  intellectual  perceptions,  easy  to  learn, 
faithful  and  honest  in  fulfilling  her  tasks.  She  inherited  a  tender 
conscience,  which  I  have  sometimes  thought  was  developed  to  an 
extreme  sensitiveness,  but  to  which  she  gave  heed  with  the  greatest 
fidelity.  Taken  all  in  all,  her  form,  as  I  recall  her  across  the  long 
interval  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  is  the  fairest  among  the  many 
lovely  ones  associated  with  memories  of  College  Hill,  in  Towanda, 
and  the  Institute  which  crowns  it.' 

"We  are  glad  to  have  these  records  of  her  childhood  from  others. 
Of  the  lovely  disposition  and  character  which  developed  among  us 
we  can  speak  from  our  own  appreciative  memory.  When  a  student 
in  Freehold  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  she  was  the  'bright  particular 
star'  in  a  large  class  of  intelligent  young  ladies.  She  was  a  con- 
scientious scholar,  studious,  earnest,  commanding  the  entire  respect 
of  the  Principal  of  that  institution.  Whether  in  the  class-room  or 
the  literary  society,  she  always  gave  strength  to  the  exercises,  and 
contributed  largely  to  their  interest.  From  childhood  she  had  given 
evidence   of  reverence   for   Christ,   and   during  her  school  life  she 


AFTERWARDS.  187 

entered  into  covenant  with  Him,  thus  fulfilhng  the  promises  made  by 
her  parents  at  her  baptism.  Bright  and  joyous  in  her  nature,  she 
yet  had  that  seriousness  of  character  which  is  common  to  all  intel- 
lectual women  whose  aim  is  to  glorify  God,  and  to  extend  the  tri- 
umphs of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom.  Prof.  Richardson's  generosity 
afforded  peculiar  facilities  to  the  daughters  of  clergymen,  and  it  may 
be  well  to  say  that  in  the  culture  of  this  young  mind  he  felt  that  he 
was  doing  work  not .  merely  for  her  advancement  in  this  life,  but 
reaching  into  eternity.  He  has  said  that  he  believed  he  was  pre- 
paring one  who  M^ould  be  a  light  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  perhaps  a 
Missionary  to  the  heathen.  His  kindness  to  her  received  a  return  in 
the  entire  respect  and  gratitude  which  she  ever  cherished  for  him. 
The  friendships  which  are  based  upon  congeniality  of  tastes  and  pur- 
suits, and  strengthened  by  the  more  enduring  tie  of  union  with  ouij 
common  Lord,  are  not  confined  to  the  narrow  boundaries  of  human 
life,  but  find  their  highest  joy  in  the  intercourse  of  eternity.  Upon 
the  foundation  laid  in  school-life  she  built  the  earnest  deeds  and 
solid  attainments  which  will  stand  the  test  in  the  day  which  shall 
decide  the  quality  of  our  works.  May  we  not  hope  that  the  com- 
panionship which  was  interrupted  here  has  now  been  renewed,  and 
that  teacher  and  pupil,  having  passed  the  trials  and  difficulties 
which  beset  their  path,  have  met  in  the  realm  of  perfect  peace? 

"Childhood  and  youth  had  passed  away;  she  had  received  in  our 
own  Seminary  the  culture  which  would  fit  her  for  usefulness  in  life. 
We  remember  her  earnest  face  when  she  had  finished  her  course  of 
study  and  received  the  testimonial  of  completeness;  the  thoughtful 
look  of  high  resolve,  as  w^ith  lingering  step  she  crossed  the  threshold 
of  her  Alma  Mater.  She  had  passed  the  years  of  preparation,  and 
now,  with  womanly  dignity  and  courage,  she  would  enter  upon  her 
life's  work.  I  think  at  this  most  interesting  period  she  had  con- 
sciousness of  power  and  a  determination  to  use  her  gifts  in  His 
service  who  had  thus  endowed  her.  It  was  not  for  her  to  tread  the 
flowery  paths  of  elegant  leisure,  neither  did  she  desire  it.  Whatever 
of  brightness  and  of  beauty  were  in  her  pathway  she  thankfully 
enjo.yed,  but  she  did  not  linger  amid  the  fascinations  of  mere  pleas- 
ure. Life  was  too  earnest;  she  could  not  be  a  loiterer.  Cares 
awaited  her;  the  knowledge  she  had  received  she  must  impart  to 
others.  She  therefore  devoted  herself  to  the  responsible  calling  of 
a  teacher.  For  this  she  was  eminently  qualified  by  natural  endow- 
ments, culture  and  facility  in  imparting  knowledge,  and  she  was  suc- 
cessful in  her  work.  But,  knowing  that  human  knowledge  will  avail 
little  unless  accompanied  by  heavenly  wisdom,  she  prayerfully  sought 
to  lead  her  pupils  to  the  Great  Teacher,  who  only  could  make  them 


188  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

wise  unto  salvation,  and  many  souls,  we  belie\'e,  were  saved  through 
her  instrumentality. 

"At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  our  Presbyterial  Society,  held  in  this 
room,  in  April,  1879,  she  was  elected  its  Corresponding  Secretary, 
to  fill  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Edward  B.  Hodge, 
and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  with  much  zeal.  The  im- 
pression of  duty  which  she  had  long  felt,  to  go  forth  as  a  Missionarj^ 
to  the  heathen,  was  greatly  deepened  by  being  officially  connected 
with  the  work,  and  it  was  at  the  Annual  Meeting,  held  in  Philadel- 
phia a  month  later,  that  she  made  her  desire  known  to  the  officers  of 
the  parent  Society.  She  filled  the  office  of  Secretary  with  great 
fidelity  for  three  years,  carefully  watching  over  the  interests  of  our 
organization,  and  presenting  us  each  Spring  with  accurate  reports 
of  the  work,  written  with  much  power.  In  the  Spring  of  1881  she 
received  an  appointment  to  go  out  as  a  Missionary  to  Persia,  but 
God  had  work  for  her  in  another  land,  and  it  was  as  the  wife  of 
Dr.  R.  Hamill  Nassau  that  she  went,  in  Autumn  of  that  year,  to 
the  most  self-denying  of  all  fields — dark  Africa.  Her  last  Annual 
Meeting  with  us,  which  assembled  in  Jamesburg,  was  a  time  of  very 
tender  feeling.  The  knowledge  that  we  must  soon  part  with  this 
dear  friend  gave  a  saddened  interest  to  the  occasion.  A  spirit  of 
prayer  pervaded  the  Assembly.  Our  smiles  resembled  tears,  so  full 
were  we  of  desire  to  strengthen  her  heart,  even  while  we  felt  how 
great  would  be  our  loss.  Now  were  our  principles  put  to  the  test — 
the  duty  of  women  to  go  forth  at  the  call  of  the  Lord,  for  the  salva- 
tion of  their  own  sex  in  heathen  lands,  which  we  had  so  emphasized, 
was  accepted  by  one  whom  we  greatly  valued,  and  it  was  hard  to 
say  farewell.  But  the  Lord  had  made  known  His  will  to  her;  He 
had  called  her  by  His  spirit  to  this  service;  she  knew  His  voice  and 
followed  in  the  path  by  which  He  led  her. 

"Now  a  succession  of  pictures  pass  before  us  like  a  ])anoraina. 
At  a  large  meeting  of  the  W.  F.  M.  Society,  held  in  Asbury  Park, 
on  the  9th  of  August,  1881,  she  was  present  by  my  request,  and  led 
the  afternoon  prayer  meeting  in  the  Church.  That  audience  will 
ever  remember  her  as  she  then  appeared;  her  look  of  firm  resolve 
and  holy  submission  to  the  leadings  of  Divine  Providence.  Truly 
it  was  good  to  be  there;  the  Master's  presence  was  felt  illuminating 
the  place,  and  earnest  supplications  were  ofi"ered  that  she  might  be 
strengthened  for  the  performance  of  this  distinguished  service.  Then 
followed  the  reception  at  our  Seminary,  from  whose  portals  she  had 
gone  forth  in  1867.  It  was  fitting  that  she  should  return,  and  that 
her  venerated  teacher  should  be  the  one  to  say  'Hail  and  Farewell.' 
No  eye  was  unmoistened  by  the  tear  of  sympathy  when  slie  received 


AFTERWARDS.  189 

his  welcome,  antl  when,  with  choking  utterance,  she  attempted  to 
give  thanks  for  the  organ  there  presented,  which  was  to  be  a  solace 
and  help  in  her  work,  and,  failing  in  the  effort,  turned  to  the  chosen 
partner  of  her  future  life  for  aid.     If 

"  '  Some  feelings  are  to  mortals  given 

With  less  of  earth  in  them  than  heaven,' 


they  are  experienced  at  times  like  these,  when  love  and  sadness  are 
thus  mingled. 

"The  scene  in  the  Chapel  at  Lakewood,  where  she  plighted  faith 
to  her  husband,  the  interesting  exercises,  the  absence  of  mere  show, 
the  beautiful  purity  and  simplicity  of  her  appearance,  and  the  large 
reception  at  the  pastor's  house,  are  all  pictured  in  memory.  Once 
more  she  appeared  in  a  Woman's  Missionary  Assembly.  On  the 
day  after  her  marriage  she  visited  the  Synodical  Society,  at  Jersey 
City,  and  there  bade  farewell  to  many  who  had  been  fellow-laborers 
in  the  foreign  work;  and  on  the  following  day,  October  12th,  1881, 
we  saw  her  on  the  deck  of  the  steamer,  as,  standing  by  the  side  of 
her  husband,  she  waved  adieu  to  the  friends  assembled  on  the  shore 
of  her  native  land.  If  the  painful  thought  intruded  that  we  might 
see  her  face  no  more,  it  was  banished  from  the  mind,  and  we  looked 
forward,  after  some  years  of  earnest  work,  to  a  glad  reunion. 

"A  long  voyage  across  the  trackless  ocean  brought  her  to  the 
shores  of  Africa,  and  after  some  months  she  found  a  little  home  at 
Talaguga,  far  up  the  Ogowe  River,  where  the  face  of  a  white  woman 
had  never  before  been  seen.  Here  she  applied  herself  conscien- 
tiously to  the  work  of  leading  souls  to  Christ,  and  from  this  isolated 
abode  she  sent  us  each  year  letters  breathing  love  to  Christ  and 
desires  for  His  glory  in  the  salvation  of  the  benighted  souls  around 
her,  ever  closing  with  the  apostolic  words,  'Pray  for  us.'  Whether 
with  tender  tones  and  face  illumined  by  Christ's  righteousness,  she 
spoke  to  them  in  that  unfamiliar  language,  or  with  the  harmony  of 
the  organ,  touched  by  her  skillful  hands  and  accompanied  by  her 
voice  singing  of  Jesus,  she  still  pursued  the  work  He  had  given  her 
to  do,  and  followed  closely  in  His  steps.  She  was  happy  in  her 
service  and  in  the  companionship  of  a  husband,  who  shielded  her,  as 
far  as  possible,  from  sickness  and  danger. 

"At  length  the  hour  of  her  departure  was  at  hand,  and  being 
made  perfect  in  holiness  the  Lord  called  her  from  the  scene  of  labor 
into  His  presence,  where  there  is  fullness  of  joy.  Our  imagination 
follows  her  to  the  land  of  light;  but  it  is  vain  to  stand  gazing  into 
heaven.     There  are  moral  wastes  to  be  reclaimed,  the  'Desert  must 


190  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

rejoice  and  blossom  as  the  rose,'  and  we  must  have  our  share  in 
this  work  for  Jesus.  On  whom  shall  her  mantle  descend?  Will 
there  be  any  woman  in  this  Presbytery  ready  to  go  to  the  heathen 
in  such  spirit  of  consecration?  Christian  soldiers  drop  from  the 
ranks;  we  look  with  tearful  eyes  to  the  vacant  places,  but  the  army 
must  move  on.  As  our  warfare  is  not  carnal,  but  spiritual,  women 
are  among  the  most  heroic  combatants.  Physical  courage,  love  of 
country  and  of  earthly  glory  have  enabled  men  to  march  to  the 
cannon's  mouth.  But  to  endure  as  seeing  Him  who, is  invisible,  to 
labor  and  pray  without  apparent  success,  to  be  separated  from  the 
refinements  of  civilized  life  and  hindered  by  circumstances  beyond 
our  control,  to  be  in  danger  from  those  whom  we  would  lead  to 
Christ,  yet  with  strong  faith  to  sow  the  seed,  this  is  the  moral  sub- 
lime. Let  us  magnify  the  grace  of  God  as  exemplified  in  her  life, 
and  to  Him  give  all  the  glory!  Her  example  speaks  powerfully  to 
us,  her  co-laborers  for  many  years,  and  we  have  felt  that  this  meet- 
ing should  be  fragrant  with  her  memory.  Our  sympathies  are  ex- 
tended to  the  stricken  hearts  in  that  Talaguga  home,  accompanied 
with  tender  interest  in  the  motherless  babe. 

"We  have  a  part  in  this  work  widely  different  from  the  trials  and 
self-denial  incident  to  heathen  countries;  yet  it  is  important,  for, 
how  shall  those  poor  women  hear  the  Word  of  God  except  it  be 
sent  to  them?  Our  work  involves  no  heroic  endeavor,  but  it  does 
demand  perseverance  and  enthusiasm.  Let  the  death  of  our  beloved 
friend  arouse  us  to  greater  earnestness,  deeper  spirituality,  and  a 
desire  to  emulate  her  holy  zeal.  Two  standard-bearers  from  our 
Society  now  wear  the  crown  that  fadeth  not  away,  and  their  saintly 
lives  are  mute  appeals  to  us  for  greater  consecration.  Every  Chris- 
tian woman  in  Monmouth  Presbytery  should  be  enlisted  in  this  most 
important  work  of  the  Church,  bringing  the  nations  of  the  earth  to 
the  feet  of  Immanuel,  and  should  accompany  the  prayer  which  He 
has  taught  us — 'Thy  Kingdom  come'— with  gifts  proportionate  to 
the  mercies  received.  We  must  not  shirk  responsibility  nor  fold  our 
hands  in  inglorious  ease  while  millions  of  women  are  calling  for  the 
Bread  of  Life.  Christian  consecration  is  the  crown  of  womanhood; 
it  is  the  debt  of  gratitude  due  to  that  glorious  Gospel  to  which  we 
owe  the  position  that  we  hold  in  the  Church  and  in  the  world.  Christ 
accepts  and  commends  our  services,  and  they  shall  in  no  wise  lose 
their  reward. 

'"And  the  inward  voice  is  saying. 
Whatsoever  thing  thou  doest, 
To  the  least  of  Mine  and  lowest, 
That  thou  doest  unto  Me.'" 


AFTERWARDS.  191 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  Chandler. 

"The  occasion  which  has  brought  us  together  is  one  of  pecuhar 
and  tender  interest.  The  Presbytery  and  the  Woman's  Presbyterial 
Society  for  Foreign  Missions  have  assembled  for  a  service  in  memory 
of  our  beloved  missionary,  Mary  Foster  Nassau. 

"What  a  short  time  it  seems  since,  with  high  hopes  of  usefulness 
and  an  eager,  consecrated  spirit,  she  went  forth  to  her  chosen  work 
in  the  service  of  her  Master.  With  startling  emphasis  have  come 
the  tidings  of  her  sudden  call  from  earth  to  heaven. 

"And  now  that  we  have  met  to  mourn  our  common  loss  and  talk 
together  of  our  friend,  we  are  saddened  with  the  intelligence  that  one 
nearly  related  and  dear  to  her,  our  venerable  brother,  Rev.  Isaac 
Todd,  has  just  passed  away. 

"Mary  Foster  Nassau  was  no  common  person.  Even  in  girlhood, 
as  a  pupil  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Seminary  at  Freehold,  she  made  a 
decided  impression  upon  all  who  knew  her.  They  felt  that  she  had 
a  purpose  in  life.  Her  earnest,  Christian  character  showed  itself 
most  clearly  in  her  desire  to  lead  others  to  Christ.  This  appeared 
to  be  her  one  aim. 

"As  a  member  of  the  class  in  Evidences  of  Christianity  I  have  a 
vivid  recollection  of  her.  There  was  no  one  whose  intelligent  ques- 
tions, whose  ready  and  apt  replies  were  so  well  remembered. 

"To  her  revered  teacher,  Mr.  Richardson,  she  was  most  helpful, 
often  reading  to  him  or  writing  for  him,  and  tenderly  guiding  him  in 
his  walks.  To  the  young  ladies  of  the  Seminary,  we  warmly  com- 
mend the  example  of  this  beloved  pupil  as  an  inspiring  model,  in  her 
loyalty,  obedience,  and  unselfish  thought  of  others,  especially  her 
teacher. 

"We  recall  with  much  interest  the  gathering  in  the  Seminary  par- 
lors tendered  by  her  friends  in  Freehold  upon  the  eve  of  her  depart- 
ure for  Africa.  On  that  occasion  Mr.  Richardson's  heart  was  over- 
flowing with  gratitude  and  sadness  at  the  thought  of  one  so  dear 
leaving  this  country  for  her  blessed  work. 

"'We  shall  see  her  face  no  more  upon  earth  forever,'  but  let  the 
example  of  her  bright  and  beautiful  life  cjuicken  us  in  our  labors  for 
the  Lord  she  loved." 

Address  of  Rev.  Dr.  A.  H.  Dashiell. 

"Soon  after  completing  her  education  at  Freehold,  Miss  Mary  B. 
Foster  came  to  Ocean  County,  and  resided  with  her  brother,  near 
Holmanville.  At  that  time  I  became  acquainted  with  her,  and  she 
at  once  impressed  me  as  a  young  lady  of  refinement  and  intelligence 


192  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD, 

and  singular  devotedness  as  a  Christian.  Her  piety  was  remarkably 
free  from  all  appearance  of  self-righteousness,  and  distinguished  by 
great  geniality  and  sweetness.  So  that  she  easily  won  confidence 
and  affection.  She  at  once  undertook  the  teaching  of  the  school  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  it  was  soon  apparent  that  she  was  seeking 
the  highest  good  of  her  pupils.  Soon  the  Lord  poured  out  His  spirit 
upon  the  congregation  of  which  her  uncle.  Rev.  Isaac  Todd,  was 
pastor,  and  there  was  a  great  ingathering,  in  which  none  labored 
more  assiduously  or  successfully  than  she,  and  many  in  that  neigh- 
borhood will  rise  up  at  the  great  day  and  call  her  blessed.  Soon 
after  this  she  engaged  in  teaching  one  of  the  departments  in  the 
public  school  of  Lakewood.  In  this,  as  in  the  other,  she  exhibited 
the  same  singleness  of  aim  and  perseverance  in  seeking  the  best 
gifts  for  her  scholars. 

"  From  early  youth  she  manifested  a  great  interest  in  the  work  of 
Missions,  and  it  became  an  absorbing  desire  with  her  to  go  to  some 
land  where  Christ  was  not  known,  and  often  during  her  residence  in 
Lakewood  she  would  seek  me  in  my  study  to  confer  on  this  great 
interest,  pouring  out  her  heart's  desire,  that  she  might.be  accounted 
worthy  to  engage  in  the  work.  In  the  Providence  of  God  her  hand 
was  sought  as  a  co-laborer  in  benighted  Africa.  True  to  all  her 
cherished  desires  and  purposes,  she  hailed  it  as  a  call  of  the  Lord  to 
devote  her  life  to  lead  these  besotted  heathen  to  the  Lamb  of  God. 
Those  who  were  present  at  her  wedding  in  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Lakewood  will  never  forget  how  calm  and  joyous  she  was  in  the 
midst  of  the  crowd  of  her  loving  and  weeping  friends.  Her  career 
in  that  dark  land  was  brief,  and  its  termination  to  us  seems  most 
mysterious.  Some  have  thought  that  it  was  a  great  waste,  when 
they  thought  of  what  she  might  have  accomplished  if  she  had  re- 
mained in  her  own  country.  But  God  makes  no  mistakes.  Harriet 
Newell  and  Mrs.  Judson  were  cut  off  in  their  early  womanhood,  but 
their  brief  work  has  not  been  lost.  How  many  have  been  moved  by 
their  beautiful  lives  and  glorious  deaths  to  take  up  the  cross  which 
dropped  from  their  hands  to  carry  it  on  to  the  ends  of  the  earth! 
Like  the  'blood  of  the  Martyrs,'  their  words  and  deeds  and  suffer- 
ings have  become  the  'seed  of  the  church.'  Mrs.  Nassau  never 
regretted  the  choice  she  made.  Only  a  few  days  before  her  death 
she  wrote  to  a  young  lady  who  had  consulted  her  about  going  to 
Africa,  expressing  her  gratitude  to  God  for  casting  her  lot  among 
the  savages  on  the  Ogowe,  and  urging  her  to  come  to  her  help.  Her 
death  as  well  as  her  life  evinced  her  supreme  devotion  to  her  dear 
Lord  and  Saviour,  and,  like  another  Mary,  she  regarded  nothing  as 
too  costly  as  an  offering  to  be  laid  at  His  feet." 


AFTERWARDS.  193 

Address  by  Rev.  Allen  H.  Brown. 

"  Most  worthy  officers  and  members  of  the  Monmouth  Presby- 
terial  Society,  upon  your  invitation  I  come  to  pay  a  tribute — alas, 
inadequate — to  the  memory  of  your  departed  Missionary.  The 
glory  of  God  was  the  aim  of  her  life.  Let  us  therefore  aim,  not  so 
much  to  eulogize  the  dead,  as  to  glorify  God  for  His  rich  grace 
bestowed  upon  His  handmaiden,  and  pray  that  her  death,  even 
more  than  her  life,  may  ^^romote  His  glory. 

"My  first  accjuaintance  with  one  better  known  as  Mary  Brunette 
Foster,  was  during  the  great  revival  in  Holmanville,  in  1874,  when 
her  heart  and  hand  and  voice  were  fully  enlisted  in  that  work.  For 
obvious  reasons,  my  remarks  must  be  restricted  to  the  last  three 
years  which  she  spent  in  this  country  (1879-81),  at  Barnegat,  as  the 
founder  and  teacher  of  a  Seminary  for  young  ladies. 

"A  Presbyterian  Church  had  been  organized  at  Barnegat  village, 
and  for  a  long  time  was  composed  entirely  of  females.  Let  not  our 
brethren,  here  present,  regard  this  last  statement  with  a  smile  of 
incredulity  or  amazement.  Where  would  the  Church  be  this  day, 
and  where  your  Missionary  work,  without  the  women  of  the  Church? 
When  the  Apostle  Paul,  obedien^  to  the  Macedonian  cry,  came  to 
the  river  side  and  spake  to  the  women  who  resorted  thither,  the  first 
convert  in  Europe  was  a  certain  woman  named  Lydia.  Wherefore, 
despise  not  the  day  of  small  things.  Help  those  women,  who  now 
nobly  labor  in  the  Gospel,  at  Barnegat,  by  the  bay,  for  they  deserve 
your  syrhpathy.  Among  them.  Miss  Foster  was  an  acknowledged 
leader,  in  the  prayer-meeting,  in  the  Sabbath-school,  and  in  the  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Her  influence  made  an  indelible  impression  upon 
them,  and  now  they  cherish  her  words  and  follow  her  example.  No 
tribute  has  been  paid  to  her  memory  more  remarkable  than  that  of 
November  30th,  when  the  whole  community,  as  with  spontaneous 
impulse,  filled  to  overflowing  the  large  Church,  as  never  before,  and 
services  were  held  commemorative  of  her  virtues.  The  lapse  of 
three  years  and  the  distance  of  six  thousand  miles  seemed  only  to 
emphasize  the  hold  which  she  had  upon  their  affections. 

"In  a  part  of  that  same  building  she  had  for  three  years  taught 
the  young  ladies  and  girls  who  were  committed  to  her  care.  On 
that  same  platform  she  had  presided  again  and  again,  with  grace 
and  dignity,  while  large  audiences  were  delighted  with  a  musical 
entertainment  or  with  Scriptural  and  other  recitations.  For  the  intel- 
lectual, moral,  and  religious  training  of  her  pupils  she  toiled  and  wept 
and  prayed.  For  some,  those  recorded  prayers  are  as  yet  unanswered. 
Had  the  school  been  more  remunerative,  or  had  it  received  some  little 
outside  aid,  her  subsequent  career  might  have  been  different. 


194  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

"When  overtures  were  made  from  the  ladies  of  the  Home  Mis- 
sionary Board  to  go  as  a  teacher  to  the  remote  West,  these  were 
respectfully  declined.  Her  heart  was  more  and  more  in  the  foreign 
work.  Only  a  year  after  Mrs.  Nassau's  departure  to  Africa,  our 
minister.  Rev.  A.  V.  Bryan,  of  Barnegat,  Avent  as  a  Missionary  to 
Japan,  taking  as  his  wife  the  daughter  of  the  Home  Missionary  pas- 
tor of  Lakewood.  Surely  there  is  an  intimate  connection  between 
the  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  work. 

"You  know  not  how  often  the  Secretary  of  your  Society  spent 
the  hours  of  midnight  and  early  morn  in  writing  to  ministers  and 
ladies  to  stimulate  them  to  the  work.  The  same  zealous  si^irit  which 
thus  stimulated  others  prompted  her  to  say,  'Here  am  I;  send  me.' 
It  was  during  one  of  the  wildest  northeasterly  storms  that,  true  to 
her  appointment,  she  presented  herself  to  the  Secretaries  of  the  For- 
eign Board  in  New  York.  They  admired  her  personal  appearance, 
but  much  more  the  courage  which  braved  a  journey  of  nearly  one 
hundred  and  seventy  miles  in  that  storm.  It  was  the  same  cour- 
ageous spirit  which  subsequently  carried  her  through  the  discomforts 
of  an  African  trading  steamer ;  encountered  the  hippopotamus  of  the 
Ogowe  river;  ran  the  gauntlet  of  hostile  tribes  in  an  open  boat,  and, 
worst  of  all,  endured  that  indescribable  sense  of  loneliness  which 
came  over  her  when  deprived  of  all  the  enjoyments  of  civilized  and 
social  life  save  the  companionship  of  her  own  husband. 

"Having  been  approved  by  the  Secretaries,  her  field  of  labor  was 
yet  to  be  determined.  The  claims  of  Persia  were  presented  by  ladies 
of  Philadelphia,  and  the  claims  of  Africa  were  urged  by  Dr.  Nassau. 
It  was  after  a  night  of  prayer,  and  not  without  a  struggle,  that  she 
decided  in  favor  of  the  latter.  If  now  any  one  has  a  claim  upon 
your  sympathy  and  your  prayers,  it  is  the  bereaved  husband,  as  we 
see  him,  with  no  earthly  white  face  to  comfort  him,  alone,  giving 
directions  for  the  coffin  and  the  grave;  and  while  the  natives  in  awe 
and  solemn  silence  sit  around,  he — over  the  coffin  of  his  beloved 
wife — struggles  to  tell  them  of  a  Christian's  hope  beyond  the  grave. 
Ye  do  well  to  weep  with  him  who  weeps. 

"In  seasons  of  disappointment  or  of  sorrow  we  are  wont  to  think 
that  if  we  had  foreseen  the  result  of  our  own  action,  we  would  have 
done  differently,  and  we  wish  that  it  had  been  otherwise.  Thus 
Martha  and  Mary,  the  sisters  of  Lazarus,  both  thought  and  said, 
'Lord,  if  thou  hadst  been  here  my  brother  had  not  died.'  So  we 
sometimes,  in  our  ignorance  of  God's  plan  and  purpose,  wish  that 
something  had  been  different.  But  God's  will  is  done,  or  the  result 
would  have  been  otherwise.  It  was  the  prayer  of  our  departed 
sister  that,  whether  she  lived  or  died,  God  might  be  glorified.     And, 


AFTERWARDS.  195 

as  it  was  in  the  case  of  Lazarus,  we  believe  that  we  shall  glorify  God 
even  more  by  her  death  than  by  her  life. 

"To  human  apprehension  the  sacrifice  may  seem  too  costly. 
When  another  Mary  brake  the  box  of  precious  ointment  and  poured 
it  upon  the  Master's  feet  there  were  some — and  Judas  was  among 
them — who  said,  'To  what  purpose  is  this  waste?'  That  this  cul- 
tured and  accomplished  woman  should  lay  down  her  life  for  those 
wild  savages  because  she  loved  their  souls  was  indeed  a  costly  sacri- 
fice. But  it  is  nothing,  literally  nothing,  in  comparison  with  the 
sacrifice  which  the  Son  of  God  made  for  us  miserable  sinners,  be- 
cause He  loved  us  and  gave  Himself  for  us.  And  yet  how  many  are 
unmoved  by  such  exhibitions  of  love! 

"Ethiopia  stretches  forth  her  hands  unto  God.  Ru'ers  of  the 
nations  join  together  to  ojDen  a  highway  into  the  interior  of  Africa, 
and  when,  either  by  the  Kongo  or  by  the  Ogowe,  that  vast  territory 
shall  have  been  opened  to  commerce,  to  civilization,  and  to  Christi- 
anity, then  upon  the  roll  of  Missionary  Heroines  shall  be  inscribed 
with  honor  the  name  of  Mary  Brunette  Nassau,  and  what  she  hath 
done  for  our  common  Saviour  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memorial 
of  her,  and  He  who  defended  that  other  Mary  shall  vindicate  this 
one  also." 

Address  op  Rev.  Dr.  E.  B.  Hodge. 
"The  object,  I  take  it,  of  a  Memorial  Service  is: — 

"/.  To  pay  tribute  of  respect  to  the  departed,  and  give  expression  to 
the  natural  feelings  of  the  heart  in  experiencing  a  painful  loss. 

"It  is  a  comely  sentiment  which  prompts  us  to  lay  a  flower  on 
the  grave  of  a  friend,  or  that  gathers  the  people  of  God  together  for 
such  a  tribute  of  respect  as  we  pay  to-day.  In  a  case  like  the  pres- 
ent, the  grief  which  demands  expression  is  not  that  of  an  individual, 
nor  of  a  family.  The  church  is  in  affliction,  and  asks  the  privilege 
as  a  body,  to  weep  over  her  beloved  dead.  And  so  we  come  together 
to-day  in  the  House  of  God  to  bow  our  heads  and  to  weep.  We 
weep  with  one  another  in  tender  sympathy,  and  we  weep  in 
sympathy  even  more  tender  with  him  who  is  most  sorely  afflicted 
of  all. 

"We  recall  the  fact  that  another  Missionary  to  Africa,  the  famous 
Dr.  Livingstone,  had  also  a  wife,  Mary,  who  died,  like  our  friend,  in 
the  heart  of  the  dark  continent.  She  is  pictured  to  us  as  lying  on  a 
rude  bed,  formed  of  boxes  and  covered  with  a  soft  mattress.  Her 
husband,  like  Dr.  Nassau,  was  a  physician,  but  the  strongest  med- 
ical remedies  and  the  voice  of  love  were  as  unavailing  in  one  case  as 


196  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

in  the  other.  On  a  Sabbath  evening  he  sat  by  her  side  and  then, 
kneehng,  commended  her  spirit  to  God.  He  buried  her  under  a  great 
Baobab  tree,  and  then  wrote  to  his  daughter  in  this  tender  strain: 

"*I  pity  you  on  receiving  this;  but  it  is  the  Lord.  Dear  Agnes, 
I  feel  alone  in  the  world  now;  and  what  will  the  poor,  dear  baby  do 
without  her  mamma?' 

"How  applicable  the  words  seem  to  the  case  of  our  friend!  'I 
sometimes  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears  in  taking  up  and  arranging 
things  left  by  my  beloved  partner;  but  I  bow  to  the  divine  hand  that 
chastens  me.'     He  signs  himself  'your  sorrowing  and  lonely  father.' 

"If  sympathy  be  divine  and  helpful  and  comforting,  let  us  extend 
it  to  him  who  has  been  thus  sadly  bereaved  in  the  midst  of  his  work 
for  Christ.  Our  meeting  to-day  is  not  a  bare  formality.  The  ladder 
is  set  up  here,  also,  that  Jacob  saw  at  Bethel.  Angels  are  ascending. 
The  sympathetic  thrill  that  moves  our  hearts  is  mysteriously  car- 
ried upward.  Over  the  wide  sea  in  the  far  land,  where  he  labors  on 
alone,  there  is  similar  communication  with  heaven.  There  angels 
are  descending,  bearing  refreshment  to  the  worn  spirit  from  an 
unsuspected  source.  We  are  not  so  far  away  as  we  seem  from  the 
the  friends  we  love.  There  are  means  of  communication  with  distant 
scenes  not  subject  to  investigation  by  scientific  analysis.  It  is  no 
vain  service  we  hold  to-day.  Our  sympathy  outpoured  not  only 
goes  up  to  heaven  for  the  approval  of  God,  but  comes  down  from 
heaven  upon  the  head  of  the  bereaved  Missionary  like  a  refreshing 
rain  upon  the  mown  grass. 


"//.  A  second  object  in  such  a  Memorial  Service  as  this  is  to  study 
the  lessons  of  God's  Providence,  and  endeavor  to  profit  by  them. 

"One  of  the  most  important  is  learned  when  our  minds  are  dis- 
abused of  the  notion  that  a  life  is  wasted  when  early  ended  in  a 
hazardous  enterprise,  or  that  its  usefulness  is  to  be  estimated  by  the 
amount  and  fruitfulness  of  its  active  exertions.  It  is  no  new  experi- 
ence to  find  that  the  result  of  dying  for  Christ  may  vastly  exceed  all 
ever  accomplished  by  living  for  Him.  God  knows  the  efficacy  of  an 
offered  life;  and  He  who  once  said  to  Abraham,  'Take  now  thy  son, 
thine  only  son,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  offer  him  up  for  a  burnt  offer- 
ing,' spared  not  His  own  Son,  but  gave  Him  up  for  us  all. 

"There  is  an  appointed  work  for  each  of  the  servants  of  Christ  to 
accomplish,  but  it  may  often  be,  as  in  the  case  of  Jesus  himself,  that 
the  centre  is  found,  and  the  sum  of  all  is  accomplished,  in  dying. 
'From  the  worn-out  figure,'  says  Dr.  Blaikie,  referring  to  the  death 
of  David  Livingstone,  kneeling  at  the  bedside  in  the  hut  in  Ilala, 


AFTERWARDS.  197 

'an  electric  spark  sceined  to  fly,  quickening  hearts  on  every  side. 
The  statesman  felt  it.  It  juit  new  vigor  into  the  dispatches  he 
wrote  with  regard  to  the  slave  trade.  The  merchant  felt  it,  and 
began  to  plan  in  earnest  how  to  traverse  the  continent  with  roads 
and  railways.  The  explorer  felt  it,  and  the  Missionary.  No  parlia- 
ment of  philanthropy  was  held;  but  the  verdict  was  as  unanimous 
and  as  hearty  as  if  the  Christian  world  had  met  and  passed  the  reso- 
lution,  "Livingstone's  work  shall  not  die!     Africa  shall  live!"' 

"Just  so,  dear  friends,  we  may  truly  say  that  a  thrill  has  gone 
through  the  hearts  of  American  Christians  wherever  the  news  of 
the  death  of  our  saintly  Missionary  has  come  with  its  touching 
circumstances. 

"It  was  on  the  ninth  day  of  April,  1872,  that  a  woman's  meeting 
was  held  in  the  parlors  of  Mr.  Samuel  Taylor's  house,  in  Burlington. 
Then  and  there  was  organized  the  Woman's  Presbyterial  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Presbytery  of  Monmouth,  which  has  been 
permitted  to  continue  for  thirteen  years  its  useful  career.  The  heart 
of  Mary  Foster  was  early  drawn  to  this  work.  She  little  knew  that 
her  future  husband  came  to  Burlington  that  day,  and  that  she  was 
personally  to  consecrate  herself  for  the  redemption  of  the  dark  land 
in  behalf  of  which  Dr.  Xassau  presented  his  earnest  plea  at  the  Mis- 
sionary meeting  held  in  the  evening  in  the  church.  Yet  so  it  was. 
Mary  Nassau  is  now  in  heaven;  but  her  voyage  across  the  sea,  her 
journey  up  the  Ogowe  river,  and  her  peaceful  rest  in  an  African 
grave  are  all  important  steps  in  the  great  movement  which  is  to  end 
in  the  subjection  of  the  Dark  Continent  to  the  sway  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"///.  A  third  object  of  such  a  Memorial  Service  is  to  catch,  if  pos- 
sible, the  enthusiasm  of  the  departed  by  a  review  of  her  experience. 

"It  has  fallen  to  others  to  speak  of  that  experience.  Let  me 
simply  say  that  it  would  be  strange,  indeed,  if  the  flame  of  such  a  life 
should  not  set  on  fire  the  hearts  of  those  who  listen  to  the  recital. 

"At  the  Greek  Festival  of  Easter,  in  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem,  it  is  believed  by  the  pilgrims  that  God  Him- 
self comes  down  upon  the  tomb  of  Jesus,  covered  by  the  Chapel, 
and  manifests  His  presence  by  a  burning  flame.  Slowly,  gradually, 
from  hand  to  hand,  from  taper  to  taper  in  the  hands  of  the  pilgrims, 
the  fire  spreads,  and  from  the  gate  of  the  Church  a  mounted  horse- 
man gallops  off  with  a  lighted  taper  to  carry  the  sacred  fire  to  the 
lamps  of  the  Greek  Church,  in  the  Convent  at  Bethlehem.  May  we 
not  say,  beloved,  that  God  has  indeed  descended  upon  this  new- 
made  grave  in  the  heart  of  Africa;    descended  in  a  flame  of  fire; 


198  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

descended  to  acknowledge  the  acceptance  of  this  hfe  offered  up,  as 
the  fire  consumed  the  sacrifice  of  old  on  Carmel;  descended  that  a 
fire  might  be  lighted,  a  fire  of  zeal  and  faith  and  love,  to  spread  from 
hand  to  hand,  and  from  heart  to  heart,  until  a  great  multitude  are 
all  aflame  with  devotion  to  the  sacred  cause  for  which  she  died? 

"IV.  Let  me  mention  hut  one  other  object  of  our  Memorial  Service. 
It  is  that  toe  may  plan  measures  for  the  repairing  of  a  seeming  loss. 

"The  question  of  the  hour  is  this:  What  shall  we  do?  The  most 
obvious  thing  is  to  pray.  And  that  is  the  first  thing.  God  is  to  be 
consulted.  The  work  is  His.  In  all  time  of  disaster  and  alarm  we 
repair  to  him,  and  we  find  Him  unmoved.  He  is  not  disconcerted. 
And  from  Him  we  also  learn  to  be  confident.  We  rise  from  our 
knees  almost  to  forget  our  grief  in  the  assurance  that  every  such 
sorrow  as  we  have  just  experienced  really  marks  an  onward  stejj  in 
the  great  work  to  which  her  precious  life  was  devoted. 

"And,  after  prayer,  personal  consecration.  One  of  the  things  im- 
plied in  this  gathering  of  ours  to-day  is,  that  we  who  have  come  to 
it  desire  to  be  recognized  as  her  fellow-laborers,  the  expectant  sharers 
in  her  toil  and  sufferings  and  destiny.  It  was  no  more  her  work  than 
our  work.  We  are  the  men  and  the  women  who  sent  her  there. 
These  hands  furnished  her  for  the  expedition  into  Africa.  These  lips 
bade  her  God-speed.  These  knees  were  bent  for  her  in  prayer. 
These  hearts  waited  for  tidings  from  across  the  sea.  These  energies 
were  pledged  for  her  support.  We  held  the  rope  while  she  went 
down  into  the  deep,  dark  pit  to  rescue  the  perishing.  We  are  in 
every  sense  committed  to  the  cause  which  she  represented.  We  are 
under  the  same  orders  that  she  was;  and  stand  harnessed,  like  good 
soldiers  of  the  Cross,  as  ready,  we  trust,  as  she,  to  move  at  the  word 
of  Christ's  command. 

"Do  I  speak  too  confidently?  I  trust  not.  Where  is  the  disloyal 
heart  among  all  these  eager  listeners?  When  once  we  have  found  a 
Master  worthy  of  our  confidence  and  our  love,  what  delight  there  is 
in  a  complete  self-surrender  to  His  blessed  will. 

"'Send  me,  Lord,  where  thou  wilt  send  mc: 

Only  do  thou  guide  my  way, 
Let  thy  grace  through  life  attend  me, 

Gladly  then  will  I  obey. 
Let  me  do  thy  will  or  bear  it, 

I  would  know  no  will  but  thine; 
Shouldst  thou  take  my  life  or  spare  it, 

I  that  life  to  thee  resign.' 


AFTERWARDS.  199 

"The  removal  of  one  laborer  from  the  field  in  Africa  may  be  the 
means  of  the  re-consecration  of  a  thousand  hearts  in  America. 
Prayer  and  Consecration,  these,  beloved,  will  abundantly  repair  the 
seeming  loss.  And  meanwhile,  does  site  think  of  loss?  I  trow  not. 
All  for  her  is  gain. 

"I  confess  the  tale  is  pitiful,  as  we  hear  it  told,  of  that  death  in 
the  far  land.  It  comes  nearly  to  a  correspondence  with  the  picture 
of  a  Missionary's  death,  as  I  learned  to  recite  it  many  years  ago, 
and  heard  it  sung: 

'"And  when  at  length  I  come  to  lay  me  down, 
In  unattended  agony,  beneath  the  cocoa's  shade. 
It  will  be  sweet  to  think  that  I  have  toiled 
For  other  worlds  than  this. 

And  O,  if  any,  for  whom  Satan  has  struggled  as  he  has  for  me, 
Should  ever  reach  that  blissful  shore, 
Through  all  the  circles  of  eternal  years. 
My  blissful  spirit  shall  never  regret 
That  toil  and  suffering  once  were  mine  below.' 

"We  cannot  imagine  her  regretting  it.  She  is  learning  already 
the  special  jDrivileges,  the  peculiar  honors,  the  high  awards  bestowed 
upon  those  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  difficult  tasks  and  peril- 
ous undertakings.  Her  task  was  done  sooner  than  she  imagined. 
She  was  sent  as  a  pioneer  into  the  wilderness.  The  tramp  of  an 
armed  host  will  presently  follow  in  her  footsteps  to  claim  the  land 
hallowed  by  her  labors  for  the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 

"But,  Mary  Nassau,  thy  task  is  ended! 

"'O,  spirit  freed  from  earth, 
Rejoice,  thy  work  is  done; 
The  weary  world's  beneath  thy  feet, 
Thou  brighter  than  the  sun. 

"'Arise,  put  on  the  robes 
That  the  redeemed  win; 
Now  sorrow  hath  no  part  in  thee, 
Thou  sanctified  within. 

'"Awake,  and  breathe  the  air 
Of  the  celestial  clime! 
Awake  to  love  which  knows  no  change, 
Thou  who  hast  done  with  time! 


200  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

'"Ascend!  thou  art  not  now 
With  those  of  mortal  birth; 
The  hving  God  hath  touched  thy  Hps, 
Thou  who  hast  done  with  earth.'" 

Mrs.  Parker's  address  was  inserted  also  in  the  Freehold  Momnouth 
Democrat  of  April  23d,  1SS5. 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Monmouth  Presbytery  W.  F.  M.  S. 
again  turned  its  thought  to  Mrs.  Nassau's  memory  at  Matawan,  N.  J., 
April  13th,  1886. 

And  again  at  the  meeting  of  the  same  societ}'  at  Allentown,  A".  J., 
April  12th,  1887. 

And  yet  again  at  the  society's  meeting  in  Jamesburg,  X.  J.,  April 
10th,  1888. 

In  1886  a  tangible  monument  to  Mrs.  Nassau's  memory  was 
given  by  our  Foreign  Board  in  the  form  of  a  sailing  vessel  bearing  her 
name.  The  Rev.  G.  C.  Campbell  thus  WTote  of  it  from  his  Baraka 
Station  at  Libreville:  "I  returned  a  few  hours  ago  from  a  trijD  of  ten 
days  north  in  the  new  cutter  'Mary  Nassau.'  She  proves  an  ex- 
cellent sailer,  makes  nearly  as  good  time  against  wind  and  current  as 
when  going  with  them,  which  is  very  different  from  the  'Hudson.'" 

In  1891  I  wrote,  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  H.  H,  Fry,  an  account  of 
this  vessel.  The  stations  of  our  Mission  in  Equatorial  West  Africa 
are  scattered  along  a  coast  line  of  300  miles.  One  degree  south  of 
the  Equator  is  the  Ogow^e  River,  up  which  are  Kangwe  and  Talaguga 
Stations.  A  few  miles  north  of  the  Equator  is  the  Gaboon  estuary, 
on  which  are  Baraka  and  Angom.  Still  farther  north  of  the  Equator, 
on  a  range  of  200  miles,  are  Corisco,  Benita,  and  Batanga. 

Long  ago  we  missionaries  traveled  to  all  these  places,  generally 
in  open  sail-boats,  occasionally  receiving  aid  from  small  trading 
vessels.  It  was  in  one  of  these  small  sail-boats  that  Mrs.  Mary  Latta 
Nassau  died  in  September,  1870.  To  save  such  a  sorrow  occurring 
again,  the  Mission  was  given,  in  1871,  a  beautiful  yacht,  the  "Elfe." 
That  was  the  name  its  German  owner  had  given  it  in  Hamburg.  It 
was  sloop-rigged,  graceful,  and  very  swift.  But  it  lived  only  two 
years;  it  was  wrecked  on  Corisco  reef.  It  was  replaced  in  1874  by 
the  "Hudson,"  built  in  Liverpool.  It  was  smaller  than  the  "Elfe," 
clumsy,  and  painfully  slow.  It  was  not  built  of  good  materials, 
always  needing  repairing,  became  unsafe,  and  finally,  about  ten  years 
later,  was  sold.  We  asked  the  Board  for  something  better,  which 
would  be  of  use  also  in  the  (then)  new  Ogowe  field.  But  it  was  difficult 
to  decide  what  to  get.  Some  of  us  wanted  a  steamer,  some  a  steam 
launch,  some  a  sailing  \-essel.      To   go  to   Batanga,  a  steam  launch 


AFTERWARDS.  201 

would  be  too  small  and  unsafe.  To  go  up  the  200  miles  of  the  Ogowe, 
any  sailing  vessel  was  useless,  as  only  steamers  can  stem  its  current 
or  safely  feel  the  way  among  Ogowe  sand  banks.  Another  sailing 
vessel  was  decided  on  in  1SS.5,  and  the  children  of  the  church  were 
asked  to  provide  it.  Dr.  Ellinwood  requested  the  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Societies  to  make  it  a  memorial  of  Mrs.  Mary  Foster 
Nassau.  It  is  indeed  a  monument  to  her  memory.  But  it  is  useful 
only  in  those  parts  of  the  Mission  where  she  never  traveled,  and  is 
of  no  use  to  the  Ogowe,  the  only  part  of  the  Mission  where  she 
did  live.  There  was  some  confusion  and  misunderstanding  among 
those  who  gave  for  the  vessel.  I  noticed  the  record  of  gifts  as 
they  were  receipted  monthl}'.  Some  gave  for  "the  boat,"  "for  the 
schooner,"  "for  the  steamer,"  "for  Dr.  Nassau's  boat,"  "for  the 
Ogowe  boat."  But  there  the  "Mary  Nassau"  is  to-day,  a  graceful, 
useful,  ^.nd  comfortably  rapid  little  vessel.  Though  I  have  seen  it 
so  often,  lying  at  anchor  at  Libreville,  I  have  never  sailed  on  it. 
When  we  of  the  Ogowe  went  annually  by  river  steamer  down  to 
Gaboon  for  Presbytery  meeting,  I  have  twice  taken  off  my  little 
Mary  in  a  boat  to  the  "Nassau's  "  side,  to  show  to  her  her  mother's 
pretty  "little  ship"  and  to  point  out  the  name  in  big  letters  on  the 
flag  at  the  masthead.  But  I  did  not  haj^pen  to  be  given  any  duty 
that  led  me  on  its  journeys. 

I  do  not  remember  its  cost  nor  its  exact  dimensions.  It  is  some- 
thing over  forty  feet  long  and  about  ten  feet  in  widest  breadth. 
Having  only  one  mast,  it  is  a  "sloop;"  has  a  very  large  main-sail,  a 
top-sail,  and  two  jibs,  with  two  other  smaller  sails  used  when  needed. 
It  has  a  good  deck,  but  its  low  rails  are  not  very  safe  for  passengers 
in  a  storm.  It  has  a  small,  comfortable  cabin,  with  four  berths,  and 
conveniences  of  a  pantry  for  provisions.  The  cooking  is  done  at  the 
stove  on  deck.  There  is  a  large  hold  for  carrying  missionary  pro- 
visions and  supplies,  and  a  very  small  forecastle  in  the  bow  for  the 
crew  of  five.  The  "Mary  Nassau"  lies  at  anchor  in  the  very  safe 
harbor  of  Gaboon,  one  of  the  best  three  harbors  on  the  entire  west 
coast  of  Africa.  The  captain  lives  in  one  of  the  houses  of  Baraka 
Station.  When  the  vessel  is  not  needed  for  a  journey,  he  works 
ashore  as  missionary  carpenter  and  blacksmith,  and  is  sent  to  our 
several  stations  whenever  a  new  house  is  to  be  built.  For  several 
months  this  year  the  vessel  lay  at  Batanga,  while  he  was  helping 
Rev.  Mr.  Godduhn  build  his  house.  Full  half  of  each  month  the 
"Mary  Nassau"  is  afloat.  She  goes  sixty  miles  up  the  Gaboon  estu- 
ary, by  tide  and  wind  (aided,  sometimes,  in  a  calm,  by  four  very 
long,  strong  oars),  to  a  trading  post,  Nengenenge,  carrying  mail  and 
goods  to   Rev.   Mr.   Marling.     There   the  current  from  the  Nkama 


202  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

River  becomes  too  strong,  and  the  goods  are  loaded  into  her  boat  and 
the  crew  row  up  the  ten  miles  farther  to  Mr.  Marling's  Station, 
Angom.  Or  often  the  vessel  goes  only  some  twenty  miles  up  that 
estuary  to  cut  bamboo  palm  fronds  for  roofing,  or  mangrove  posts  or 
beams  for  house  building  and  repairing  at  Baraka.  There,  too,  are 
flats  up  the  estuary,  on  which  she  can  safely  be  beached  and  careened 
for  cleaning  away  barnacles  and  sea-weed,  between  two  tides. 

Other  trips  send  the  "Mary  Nassau"  northward  on  a  roimd  to 
carry  boxes  of  food  or  bales  of  goods  for  white  missionaries  or  quar- 
terly payments  of  wages  to  native  evangelists  amd  ministers;  e.g., 
to  native  brother.  Rev.  Mr.  Ibia,  forty  miles  north  from  Libreville, 
at  Alongo,  on  Corisco  Island.  Then  fifty  miles  farther,  to  Mrs.  DeHeer 
and  Mrs.  Rentlinger,  at  Bolondo  house,  Benita.  In  the  Benita  River, 
also,  is  a  good  sand  bank,  on  which  to  clean  the  vessel's  bottom  or 
repair  its  copper  sheathing.  Then  twenty  miles  farther  north,  to 
native  brother,  Rev.  Mr.  Etiyani,  at  Bata.  Then  sixty  miles  farther 
to  Batanga,  for  Rev.  Mr.  Godduhn  and  native  licentiate,  Itongolo. 
Before  Mr.  Godduhn  came  to  Batanga,  the  "Mary  Nassau"  had  to 
take  Rev.  Mr.  Gault  from  Baraka  on  a  month's  tour,  for  semi-annual 
Communion  Services  at  Benita,  Bata,  Evune  and  Batanga.  The 
trip  to  the  north  is  always  rapidly  made ;  any  wind  (except  from  the 
north)  will  carry  the  vessel  there.  But  coming  back  south,  only  the 
east  wind  (which  blows  usually  only  at  night)  is  the  really  helpful  one. 
But  by  tacking,  the  "Mary  Nassau"  makes  good  progress  against 
the  southwest  sea  breeze.  The  north  wind  drives  her  furiously  on  her 
way.  But  that  is  a  tornado  wind,  dangerous,  by  its  sudden  force; 
an  anxious  eye  needs  to  be  kept  on  the  sails,  to  take  them  down  in 
time. 

In  January,  1890,  our  French  Protestant  visitors,  Rev.  Messrs. 
Allegret  and  Teisseres,  in  the  "Mary  Nassau,"  made  an  inspection 
of  our  northern  field.  The  captain  Avas  in  the  United  States  on  fur- 
lough. They  had  a  native  in  his  place.  A  fearful  storm  came  on; 
the  native  was  slow  to  get  the  sails  down ;  the  vessel  lay  dangerously 
over  on  its  side;  the  terrific  thunder  and  lightning  of  this  country 
frightened  even  the  natives.  And  when  the  St.  Elmo  lights  blazed 
on  the  mast  and  played  along  the  ropes,  the  crew  refused  to  work, 
in  their  superstition  thinking  all  was  lost.  But  the  white  gentlemen 
got  the  vessel  righted  and  nothrng  was  lost  or  broken. 

In  returning  south,  the  "Mary  Nassau"  often  brings  a  load  of 
native  passengers,  native  evangelists  and  their  families  coming  for 
a  special  shopping  expedition  at  the  Libreville  "metropolitan" 
stores,  or  to  ask  counsel  about  some  church  trouble,  or  to  bring  some 
sick  to  the  French  doctor,  or  to  the  annual  meeting  of  Presbytery. 


AFTERWARDS.  203 

Also,  at  the  northern  jDorts  can  be  obtained  more  cheaply  than  in  the 
Gaboon  district,  fowls,  goats,  sheep,  and  native  vegetables,  a  load 
of  which  the  "Mary  Nassau"  sometimes  brings  to  the  Baraka  families. 
Thatch,  for  constant  roof  repairing,  can  be  obtained  cheaper  and  of 
better  make  at  Benita.  The  hold  of  the  vessel  is  often  full  of  it  on 
its  returns  from  the  north.  Our  "Mary  Nassau"  is  the  only  one  of 
the  many  vessels,  large  and  small,  going  in  and  out  of  the  Gaboon 
estuary,  which  has  not  rum  on  it;  where  the  voice  of  morning  and 
evening  prayer  and  song  is  heard,  where  God's  name  is  not  blasphemed, 
and  where  the  Sabbath  is  kept.  The  crew  are  frequently  changing. 
Sometimes  there  are  native  Christians  among  them.  But  even  if  they 
happen  to  be  all  heathen,  the  mission-captain  has  the  daily  prayer, 
and  the  name  of  God  is  required  to  be  held  in  reverence. 

The  missionaries  in  the  Ogowe  never  see  the  "Mary  Nassau," 
except  when,  coming  once  a  year  by  boat  or  chance  river  steamer 
to  the  Presbytery  and  Mission  annual  meetings  at  Baraka,  they  see 
it  at  anchor  in  the  Gaboon  harbor.  But  they  rejoice  in  the  valuable 
aid  the  good  little  vessel  gives  to  other  parts  of  the  Mission.  And 
the  noble  woman  whose  name  it  bears,  from  the  Ogowe  grave  on  the 
rocky  moimtain-side  of  Talaguga,  could  she  know,  would  be  glad, 
in  the  unselfish  spirit  that  distinguished  her  life,  that  even  her  name 
was  still  helping  in  places  which  it  had  not  been  her  privilege  to  see, 
or  where,  in  her  short  three  years  of  missionary  work,  she  had  not 
labored. 

At  this  date,  1909,  the  "Mary  Nassau"  no  longer  exists.  After 
some  fifteen  years  of  usefulness  it  was  sold.  Conditions  had  changed; 
the  captain  could  no  longer  obtain  a  native  crew  to  serve  under  him ; 
his  services  as  a  carpenter  wer#  constantly  called  for  ashore  at  the 
Station  repairs;  the  center  of  Mission  importance  had  been  trans- 
ferred from  Gaboon  to  Batanga,  where  there  was  no  safe  permanent 
anchorage;  Baraka  Station  was  blessed  with  its  own  "Dorothy," 
a  gasoline  launch,  for  Gaboon  river  use;  the  ocean  steamers  having 
increased  in  number  and  in  frequency  of  stoppages,  the  missionaries 
of  other  stations  ceased  to  travel  on  the  "Mary  Nassau;"  no  longer 
being  used,  the  vessel's  continued  repairs  were  an  unnecessary  expense. 

The  framed  house  at  Talaguga  was  finally  completed,  and  in  1885 
the  six  months'  old  baby  Mary  began  to  occupy  her  mother's  house, 
which  the  mother  had  never  entered. 

In  due  time  came  the  white  marbles  for  the  grave.  On  one  side 
of  one  of  the  blocks  was  chiseled  only  the  name  "  Mary  Brunette 


204  THE    PATH    SHE    TROD. 

(Foster)  Nassau;"  and  on  the  ends  only  the  dates  of  birth  and 
death.  There  her  "little  girl"  often  played,  and  in  those  deeply 
graven  letters  her  fingers  made  their  first  attempt  at  the  alphabet. 

When,  in  1892,  our  Mission  transferred  its  French-Ogowe  workers 
to  German-Batanga,  handing  over  the  former  field  to  our  Protestant 
brothers  of  the  Societe  Evangelique  de  Paris,  these  brethren  did  not 
ignore  our  past,  but  with  rare  courtesy  constantly  acknowledge 
my  foundation  on  which  they  are  building,  building  diligently  and 
successfully.  The  Talaguga  that  seemed  so  barren  in  1884  has  fruited 
abundantly. 

Later,  that  French  Mission  saw  reason  to  transfer  their  Talaguga 
Station  to  Njoli  Island,  but  considerately  retaining  the  "Talaguga" 
name.  All  buildings  have  been  removed.  Nothing  now  remains 
of  old  Talaguga  but  the  first  trees  I  planted  and  the  grave  I  made. 
The  rampant  tropic  vegetation,  when  I  last  visited  the  jilace  in  Jan- 
uary, 1906,  had  obliterated  the  walks  and  even  the  sites  of  former 
buildings.  But  with  loving  fraternity,  our  friends  of  new  Talaguga 
have  carefully  kept  away  any  encroaching  vegetation  from  the  grave, 
its  iron  fence,  and  the  path  to  it  from  the  river  side. 

Yet  even  missionary  graves  have  sometimes  been  forgotten.  I 
should  not  exact  of  the  French  Talaguga  Station  that  care  for  the  lone 
grave  in  that  African  forest  should  forever  be  a  tax  on  their  often 
burdened  time  and  thought.  At  the  suggestion  of  one  of  their  own 
number,  more  than  two  years  ago,  I  have  asked  that  the  grave  be 
removed  to  their  own  permanent  cemetery  on  Njoli  Island.  But  for 
the  slow  processes  of  law,  permission  having  first  to  be  obtained  of 
the  French  Government,  the  removal  would  already  have  been  ac- 
complished. 


On  February  24th,  1910,  I  am  informed,  by  letter  from  the  liev. 
E.  Bion  of  the  Ogowc  French  Protestant  Mission,  that  on  December 
20th,  1909,  all  legal  requirements  having  been  fulfilled,  the  remains 
of  Mrs.  Nassau  were  removed  to  the  Mission's  permanent  Cemetery 
on  Njoli  Island,  two  miles  up  river  from  old  Talaguga.  They  were 
reverently  re-interred,  in  the  presence  of  Government  officials,  mis- 
sionaries, natives,  Christian  and  heathen,  and  school  children,  with 
reading  of  Scripture  from  the  Revelation  in  the  CJalwa  language,  a 
short  address  in  French  and  Fang,  and  a  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gallay. 
Mr.  Bion  adds:  "All  that  was  very  simple,  according  to  your  wish. 
We  perceived  the  presence  of  God." 

R.   II.    NASSAU. 


Just  as  I  lay  down  my  pen,  there  come  to  me  the  lines  of 
George  Macdonald  as  an  appropriate  counter-piece  to  the  title 
I  had  already  chosen. 

"I  said,  'Let  me  walk  in  the  fields.' 
He  said,  'No;  walk  in  town.' 
I  said,  'There  are  no  flowers  there,' 
He  said,  'No  flowers,  but  a  crown.' 

"I  said,   'But  the  skies  are  black; 

There  is  nothing  but  noise  and  din.' 
And  He  wept  as  He  sent  me  back; 

'There  is  more,'  He  said,   'there  is  sin.' 

"  I  said,  '  But  the  air  is  thick. 
And  fogs  are  veiling  the  sun.' 
He  answered,  '  Yet  souls  are  sick, 
And  souls  in  the  dark  undone.' 

"I  said,  'I  shall  miss  the  light. 

And  friends  will  miss  me,  they  say.' 
He  answered,  'Choose  to-night 
If  I  am  to  miss  you,  or  they.' 

"I  pleaded  for  time  to  be  given. 
He  said,  'Is  it  hard  to  decide? 
It  will  not  seem  hard  in  heaven 

To  have  followed  the  steps  of  your  Guide.' 

"Then  into  His  hand  went  mine, 
And  into  my  heart  came  He. 
And  I  walk  in  a  light  divine 
The  path  that  I  feared  to  see." 


